mălĭtĭa, ae, f. [malus], bad quality, badness.
I Lit. (post-class.): terrae malitia, Pall. 1, 6: arboris, unfruitfulness , id. 11, 8.—
II Trop., ill-will, spite, malice (class.): virtutis contraria est vitiositas: sic enim malo, quam malitiam, appellare eam, quam Graeci κακίαν appellant: nam malitia certi cujusdam vitii nomen est: vitiositas omnium, Cic. Tusc. 4, 15, 34: est enim malitia versuta et fallax nocendi ratio, id. N. D. 3, 30, 75; id. Rosc. Com. 16, 46: per summam fraudem et malitiam, id. Quint. 18, 56; id. Clu. 26, 70; opp. to virtus: virtute, non malitia, P. Scipioni placuisse, Sall. J. 22, 2.—With malus : sine mala omni malitia, Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 38.—In plur.: collatio nostrarum malitiarum, Plaut. Mil. 3, 3, 66: everriculum malitiarum omnium, Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 74.—
B Cunning, artfulness : muliebris malitia adhibenda est mihi, Plaut. Ep. 4, 1, 23.—
C Sometimes in a good sense, like our roguery , Cic. Att. 15, 26, 4: tamen a malitia non discedis, you do not desist from your roguery , id. Fam. 9, 19, 1.