Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

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

  1. I. Lit.
    1. 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.
    2. B. In partic. (mostly post-Aug.).
      1. 1. Fraud, deception, adulteration: me maleficio vinceres? Plaut. Truc. 2, 6, 20 Speng.; Quint. 7, 4, 36; Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 120.
      2. 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.
  2. 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.