Aforethought: meaning, definitions and examples
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aforethought
[ əˈfɔrˌθɔt ]
legal term
Aforethought refers to the consideration or planning of an action in advance, particularly in a legal context where it denotes the deliberate intention to commit a crime. It implies that the perpetrator acted with premeditation or intent, distinguishing such actions from those done in the heat of the moment. In many legal systems, crimes committed with aforethought are subject to more severe penalties than those that are unpremeditated, as they demonstrate a higher degree of culpability. This term is often associated with murder cases, particularly first-degree murder, where the intent to kill is clearly established.
Synonyms
deliberation, intent, premeditation.
Examples of usage
- The court found him guilty of murder in the first degree due to the evidence of aforethought.
- Aforethought is a key element in proving premeditation.
- She acted with aforethought when she planned the elaborate scheme.
Translations
Translations of the word "aforethought" in other languages:
🇵🇹 antecipação
🇮🇳 पूर्व विचार
🇩🇪 Voraussicht
🇮🇩 pertimbangan sebelumnya
🇺🇦 попереднє обдумування
🇵🇱 przemyślenie
🇯🇵 前もっての考慮
🇫🇷 préoccupation
🇪🇸 previsión
🇹🇷 önceden düşünme
🇰🇷 사전 고려
🇸🇦 تفكير مسبق
🇨🇿 předvídavost
🇸🇰 predvídavosť
🇨🇳 事先考虑
🇸🇮 predhodno razmišljanje
🇮🇸 fyrirframkvæmd
🇰🇿 алдын ала ойлау
🇬🇪 წინასწარ აზროვნება
🇦🇿 əvvəlcədən düşünmə
🇲🇽 previsión
Etymology
The term 'aforethought' originates from the Middle English word 'afore thougt', which combines 'aforesaid' (meaning 'before') and 'thought' (referring to consideration or intention). Its roots can be traced back to Old English, where 'foran' indicated 'before' and 'þoht' referred to 'thought'. The usage of the term has evolved within legal contexts, especially in discussions of premeditated actions. Its legal significance became increasingly pronounced from the 17th century onwards, as law codes began to explicitly differentiate between various levels of intent in criminal behavior. This differentiation was crucial in the development of modern legal standards for culpability and punishment.