məˈlefəsən(t)s noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian maleficenza, from Latin maleficentia, from maleficus + -entia -ence
1.
a. : the commission of harm or evil : evildoing
the punishment of maleficence
b. : a harmful or evil act
guilty of more than one maleficence
2. : the quality or state of being maleficent
recognized the maleficence of the plan