premeditation

[ pri-med-i-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of premeditating.
2. Law. sufficient forethought to impute deliberation and intent to commit the act.

premeditation

/ prɪˌmɛdɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. law prior resolve to do some act or to commit a crime
2. the act of premeditating

Word History and Origins

Origin of premeditation¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin praemeditātiōn- (stem of praemeditātiō ) a considering beforehand. See premeditate, -ion

Example Sentences

The issues revolved around the degree of planning and premeditation, amount of mental and physical suffering inflicted on Holly and MacPhail's motivation for having a knife, the court heard.

From BBC

In mitigation, Nigel Edwards KC said MacPhail's premeditation was "limited" and there was a "spontaneous eruption" of violence in a "fast-moving" situation.

From BBC

The following day, April was charged with first-degree murder, a charge that suggests intent, deliberation, premeditation, and a disregard for human life.

From Slate

He acted with deliberation and premeditation, and in asking to be billed and paying for the ticket was trying to avoid investigations into the gifts, the judge added.

From BBC

"Then I stepped toward him and, without premeditation, but ever respectfully, I said 'forgive me sir' and plucked the cigar from his mouth."

From BBC