malicious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having the nature of or resulting from malice

   malicious gossip

2. 2
   adj

   Intending to do harm; characterized by spite and malice.

   He was sent off for a malicious tackle on Jones.

Etymology

From Middle English malicious, from Old French malicios, from Latin malitiōsus, from malitia (“malice”), from malus (“bad”). Displaced native Middle English ivelwilled and ivelwilly (“malicious”), related to Old English yfelwillende (literally “evil-willing”). By surface analysis, malice + -ious.