maleficium

mălĕfĭcĭum, ĭi, n. [maleficus], an evil deed, misdeed, wickedness, offence, crime.

I.

Lit.

A.

In gen. (class.):

ne conscii sint ipsi malefici suis,

Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 21:

conscientia maleficiorum,

Cic. Phil. 5, 6, 15:

committere, admittere,

to commit, id. Rosc. Am. 22, 62:

exsilio multare,

id. Caecin. 34, 100:

supplicia pro maleficiis metuere,

id. Rosc. Am. 3, 8.—

B.

In partic. (mostly post-Aug.).

1.

Fraud, deception, adulteration:

me maleficio vinceres?

Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 20 Speng.; Quint. 7, 4, 36; Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 120.—

2.

Enchantment, sorcery, Tac. A. 2, 69 Orell. N. cr.; App. M. 9, p. 230, 24; 231, 28; cf.

magica,

id. Mag. p. 278, 21; Schol. Juv. 6, 595.—

II.

Transf., mischief, hurt, harm, injury, wrong inflicted (acc. to maleficus, II.):

pro maleficio beneficium reddere,

Ter. Phorm. 2, 2, 22:

ab injuria et maleficio se prohibere,

Caes. B. G. 2, 28:

sine ullo maleficio,

id. ib. 1, 7; id. B. C. 2, 20:

novis corrumperent maleficiis,

Liv. 7, 20:

maleficii occasione omissa,

id. 9, 12 al. —Hence, transf. (abstr. pro concr.), a noxious insect, vermin:

ita non nasci maleficia,

Plin. 18, 30, 73, § 308; 8, 59, 84, § 229; 20, 13, 51, § 133.