Ma*li"cious (?), a. [Of. malicius, F. malicieux, fr. L. malitiosus. See Malice.] 1. Indulging or exercising malice; harboring ill will or enmity.
I grant him bloody, . . .
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name.
Shak.
2. Proceeding from hatred or ill will; dictated by malice; as, a malicious report; malicious mischief.
3. Law With wicked or mischievous intentions or motives; wrongful and done intentionally without just cause or excuse; as, a malicious act.
Malicious abandonment, the desertion of a wife or husband without just cause. Burrill. -- Malicious mischief Law, malicious injury to the property of another; -- an offense at common law. Wharton. -- Malicious prosecution ∨ arrest Law, a wanton prosecution or arrest, by regular process in a civil or criminal proceeding, without probable cause. Bouvier.
Syn. -- Ill-disposed; evil-minded; mischievous; envious; malevolent; invidious; spiteful; bitter; malignant; rancorous; malign.
-- Ma*li"cious*ly, adv. -- Ma*li"cious*ness, n.
© Webster 1913. | 
