prepensedadj.

1454 Petition W. Ingham in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 86 Oone Thomas Denyes, of ful grete malice prepensed..jmagynyng vtterly to destroye youre seyde besecher, contryved a lettre in þe name of my lorde of Oxenforde.

1530–1 Act 22 Hen. VIII c. 14 Manslaughter by chaunce medley, and not murder of malyce prepensed.

1583 P. Stubbes Anat. Abuses sig. Pvii Is this a christian dealing for one brother to mayme and hurt another, and that vpon prepensed malice, or set purpose?

1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Yy1^v/1 Murder..signifieth in our common lawe, a wilfull and felonious killing of any other vpon prepensed malice.

a1634 E. Coke 3rd Pt. Inst. Laws Eng. (1644) vii. 51 Malice prepensed is, when one compasseth to kill, wound, or beat another, & doth it sedato animo. This is said in law to be malice forethought, prepensed, malitia præcogitata.

1659 H. Thorndike Epil. Trag. Church of Eng. i. 222 What fault soever may have come..it cannot be presumed to have come upon prepensed malice.

1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. (at cited word) If there were Malice prepensed formerly between them, it makes it Murder; as it is called in some Statutes Prepensed Murder.

a1742 T. Story Jrnl. of Life (1747) 185 The turning to this red-hot blaspheming Priest, I told him, ‘His Syllogism betray'd his Ignorance, and his Passion his prepensed Malice.’

1841 Act 4 & 5 Vict. c. 22 In all and every Case and Cases of Felony wherein the Privilege and Benefit of Clergy is restrained, excepted, or taken away by this Statute or Act, (wilful Murder and poisoning of Malice prepensed only excepted) [etc.].

1976 Michigan Law Rev. 74 479 A general pardon for all felonies..was apparently available to those who slew feloniously but not of malice prepensed.

1993 ELH 60 31 Clearly the justices are trying to reconcile natural law, which obviously calls for Saunders's punishment, with the law requiring intent (prepensed malice or mens rea).

1528 J. Skelton Honorificatissimo: Replycacion agaynst Yong Scolers sig. Bii An ineuytably prepensed answere to all waywarde or frowarde altercacyons.

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 73 If the offence be committed vpon a prepensed mynde, and wilfully.

1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xxxvii. vii. 948 Having no time to put any prepensed plot in practise.

1671 W. Penn Truth Rescued 40 With what prepenst Unkindness and disdainful Ketch he was treated.

1742 R. Manning Moral Entertainm. III. lvi. 207 For if all Sort of Lying, but especially prepensed and studied Lying, be very hateful to God, as I have fully shewed.

1946 M. Summers tr. J. Bodin in Witchcraft & Black Magic i. 28 The reason for this lies in the point that the witch of his own free will and volition prepensed seeks communion with the Devil.

1496 Act 12 Hen. VII c. 7 If any Lay Person hereafter prepensedly murder their Lord, Master, or Sovereign immediate, that they hereafter be not admitted to their Clergy.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. C5^v If it were prooued that he killed him wittingly, willingly, & prepensedly.

1640 F. Knight Relation Seaven Yeares Slaverie 24 He came not thether prepensedly, but being bound for Constantinople to serve his Emperour was put into their Seas by extremetie of weather.