Home UK English maleficium

Meaning of maleficium in English:

maleficium

noun

  • 1An act of witchcraft performed with the intention of causing damage or injury; the resultant harm.

  • 2A potion or poison, used especially in witchcraft.

  • 3Law
    An act of wrongdoing which causes harm, injury, or loss to another party; the result of such an act.

Pronunciation

maleficium

/malɪˈfɪʃɪəm/ /ˌmalɪˈfɪkɪəm/

Origin

Early 17th century; earliest use found in George Abbot (1562–1633), archbishop of Canterbury. From classical Latin maleficium evil deed, injury, sorcery from maleficus + -ium.