bad mindn.adj.
/ˌbad ˈmʌɪnd/, U.S. /ˈbæd ˈmaɪnd/ A. n.
1. An evil or suspicious mind. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > lack of confidence, distrust, suspicion > [noun] > state of
suspiciousness1525
mistrustfulness1542
distrustfulness1577
distrustiness1579
bad mind1593
disconceitedness1659
suspectfulness1872
1593 T. Churchyard Challenge 52 The open paltring exercises of a bad mind.
1613 G. Wither Abuses Stript ii. iv. sig. S7v We dare come before th'almighty King to sue for pardon for our sinnes; yet bring The selfe same bad mind still, conceiuing murther.
1794 A. M. Bennett Ellen III. 119 The docter [sic] was that kind of accomodating man, a bad mind might make its ally.
1855 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon at St. Helena xxviii. 408 Never has he given a greater proof of a bad mind than in thus wishing to stab to the heart one whom misfortunes had placed in his power.
1889 T. Morse Benjamin Franklin ix. 235 He had no particle of evidence to sustain this notion, which was simply the subtle conception of his own bad mind.
1999 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 24 Nov. b1 Whoever did this has a bad mind.
2. Caribbean. Malicious thoughts or intentions; spite, animosity. Chiefly in to have (a) bad mind for.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > [noun]
heteeOE
nitheeOE
fiendshipc900
hatingOE
hatec1175
loathnessc1175
foeshipa1200
hatreda1225
foredenc1275
bitterhead1340
enmityc1380
bitternessa1382
haynec1386
enemy1398
heart-burningc1425
affection1485
dislovea1533
pique1532
haturea1563
animosity1568
foehood?1578
animoseness1730
hard feeling1803
dispeace1825
needle1874
bad mind1939
1939 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 25 Feb. 35/6 Dem got bad mind.
1961 I. Khan Jumbie Bird vii. 90 That is not good to have bad-mind for that country and even that Government o' that Rajah that give him food and shelter, you can't kick a bowl of milk.
1979 Express (Port of Spain, Trinidad) 1 Dec. 4 The politics of bad mind will not do.
1980 M. Thelwell Harder they Come x. 221 You can all stop you giggling and signifying. Unu too have bad mind for you own good.
1996 S. Mootoo Cereus blooms at Night ii. 124 I wanted her to know that I wasn't frightened and I didn't have a bad mind for her.
B. adj.
Caribbean. Malicious, spiteful. Cf. bad-minded adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [adjective]
loathOE
teenfulOE
nithefulOE
ondfula1200
maliciousa1250
doggedc1300
enviousc1330
venomousa1340
venoma1350
spitous?a1366
despitousc1374
heinous?a1400
unkindlya1400
venomyc1400
sinister1411
sputousc1420
doggish?a1425
cankered?a1439
doggya1450
sinistrous1460
spity1481
despiteful1488
spiteful1490
despiteous?1510
viperious?1510
peevisha1522
envyful1530
viperous1535
viperinec1540
vipered1560
bad-minded1588
uncanny1596
dogged-sprighted1600
toothsome1601
maliced1602
ill-minded1611
virulent1613
ill-hearteda1617
doleful1617
spitish1627
ill-meaning1633
splenial1641
litherlya1643
venomsome1660
slim1668
cat-witted1672
vipereal1750
viperish1755
méchant1813
vicious1825
maliceful1840
mean1841
waspish1855
viperian1866
viperan1877
cattish1883
catty1886
bad mind1904
bitchy1908
1904 Penny Cuts (Trinidad) 19 Nov. Day so bad min dat de po contracters doz see fits and doz have to run way from de lan befo it haff-way plant up.
1959 V. S. Naipaul Miguel St. 40 Boy, I don't like meddling with that man. These people really bad-mind.
1968 Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 14 Jan. 4/1 Wid dem bad-mind people bout me, maybe dem set duppy pon mi.
2005 Riddim No. 1. 23/3 Hear wha gwaan inna de street. See the people dem who kill off demself, dem badmind.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adj.1593