English
maleficence
Maleficence may come from Italian maleficenza ‘maleficence, wickedness, malignancy’.
- Italianc. 1300–presentmaleficenza‘maleficence, wickedness, malignancy’uncertain
- Englishtodaymaleficence
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Italianc. 1300–presentmaleficenza‘maleficence, wickedness, malignancy’uncertain
- Englishtodaymaleficence
Every English word from Italian maleficenza
Today it means
noun harmfulness or mischief.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Italian maleficenza / maleficence