| 释义 |
maleficence|məˈlɛfɪsəns|
[ad. L. maleficentia, f. maleficus malefic: cf. magnificence.]
1. Evil-doing; rarely, an act of evil-doing.
1598J. Keeper tr. Romei's Court. Acad. 252 Povertie bringeth foorth seditions and maleficences. a1670Hacket Abp. Williams ii. (1692) 85 The Bishop of Lincoln..fell into trouble..for want of a parliament to keep him from maleficence. 1830Bentham Offic. Apt. Maximized Pref. 25 note, The correspondent closeness of connection between maleficence..and punishment. 1865J. Grote Treat. Mor. Ideas xi. (1876) 244 By ‘maleficence’ I mean the attempt to give pain, as such, to others. 1865Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xix. viii. (1872) VIII. 249 Who the perpetrator of this Parisian maleficence was, remained dark.
2. Malefic character; harmfulness.
1796H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 32 In order to express the maleficent character of a venomous plant, she combines in it clashing oppositions of the forms and colours which are the indications of that maleficence. 1830Westm. Rev. XIII. 428 He takes in hand Matchless Constitution's plan. Not sufficient for him is its maleficence—he adds to it [etc.]. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 884 There is still in such [formerly malarious] districts some remnant of maleficence. |