ETYM French malice, from Latin malitia, from malus bad, ill, evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; cf. Greek melas black, Skr. mala dirt. Related to Mauger.
1. Desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.
2. Intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse.
3. Feeling a need to see other suffer; SYN. maliciousness, spite, spitefulness, venom.

ETYM Old Eng. meschef bad result, Old Fren. meschief; pref. mes- (Latin minus less) + chief end, head, French chef chief. Related to Minus, and Chief.
Reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others; SYN. mischief-making, mischievousness, deviltry, devilry, devilment, rascality, roguery, roguishness, shenanigan.

ETYM Abbreviated from despite.
Hatred; malicious ill will.

ETYM Cf. French virulence, Latin virulentia an offensive odor, a stench.
1. Extreme harmfulness.
2. Extreme hostility.

Virulence.