prepense

[ pri-pens ]

adjective

1. planned or intended in advance; premeditated.

prepense

/ prɪˈpɛns /

adjective

1. postpositive (usually in legal contexts) arranged in advance; premeditated (esp in the phrase malice prepense )

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepense¹

1695–1705; pre- + -pense < Latin pēnsus, past participle of pendere to weigh, consider; pensive

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepense¹

C18: from Anglo-Norman purpensé, from Old French purpenser to consider in advance, from penser to think, from Latin pēnsāre to weigh, consider

Example Sentences

Could them get help from so-called the US activist group China Aid without any prepense selection?!

From BBC

He did, it is true, occasionally chafe against some susceptible spot or other of those around him, but there was no malice prepense in it, any more than there is intentional offence in the passage of a strong man through a crowd; so he elbowed his way, and pushed on in conversation, never so much as suspecting that he jostled any one in his path.

From Project Gutenberg

The only remark I shall have to add is, that if a man killed another, "malice prepense aforethought," the act, in nineteen cases out of twenty, would be either a very meritorious one, or of no consequence whatever; in either of which cases the penal code had, of course, nothing to do in the matter.

From Project Gutenberg

Not at once, I confess—not off-hand, and with such malice prepense as the others—for Nicodemus Handy had a soul above such black ingratitude—but after a pause, and, let the truth be told in extenuation, because he could not help it.

From Project Gutenberg

Premeditated; prepense; previously in mind; designed; as, malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calculated
• careful
• cautious
• cold-blooded
• conscious
• meticulous
• premeditated
• prudent
• purposeful
• studious
• thoughtful
• willful