prepense

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɹɪˈpɛns/ UK /prɪˈpens/ See IPA manual

Freq #1292818

Meanings

1

adj
planned or considered beforehand; premeditated, chiefly in the legal phrase malice prepense

The indictment alleged malice prepense rather than a death caused in sudden anger.
2

verb
archaic: to consider, intend, or plan beforehand

A prudent council should prepense the consequences before declaring war.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · planned or considered... premeditatedaforethought preconceived

2 verb · archaic: to consider,... preconsiderpremeditate

Opposites

spontaneous unpremeditated

Word family

Derived forms prepensedprepensive

Related forms premeditatemalice aforethoughtpurpose

Etymology

The adjective is a shortening of earlier prepensed, from the obsolete verb prepense, 'to consider beforehand.' That verb came through Anglo-Norman prepenser and Old French pourpenser, built from a prefix meaning 'before' + penser, 'to think,' ultimately from Latin pensare, 'to weigh or consider.'

Topics

Describing Qualities Register & Style

External links

# prepense

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /pɹɪˈpɛns/
**IPA (UK):** /prɪˈpens/
**Frequency rank:** 1292818

## Meanings
1. planned or considered beforehand; premeditated, chiefly in the legal phrase malice prepense
2. archaic: to consider, intend, or plan beforehand

## Examples
- The indictment alleged malice prepense rather than a death caused in sudden anger.
- A prudent council should prepense the consequences before declaring war.

## Synonyms
- premeditated
- aforethought
- preconceived

## Antonyms
- spontaneous
- unpremeditated

## Derived Forms
- prepensed
- prepensive

## Related Forms
- premeditate
- malice aforethought
- purpose

## Etymology
The adjective is a shortening of earlier prepensed, from the obsolete verb prepense, 'to consider beforehand.' That verb came through Anglo-Norman prepenser and Old French pourpenser, built from a prefix meaning 'before' + penser, 'to think,' ultimately from Latin pensare, 'to weigh or consider.'

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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