prepense
/prɪˈpɛns
/adjective [usually postpositive] chiefly Law, dated
Deliberate; intentional: malice prepense...
- Webster's defines aforethought adequately, with a reference to the relevant legal term: ‘Premeditated; prepense; previously in mind; designed; as, malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder.’
Derivatives
prepensely
Origin
Early 18th century: alteration of prepensed, past participle of obsolete prepense, from Old French purpenser, from por- 'beforehand' + penser 'think'. The prefix pre- was substituted to emphasize the notion of 'beforehand'.