Maleficium

Maleficium is a Latin term meaning "wrongdoing" or "mischief" and is used to describe malevolent, dangerous, or harmful magic, "evildoing" or "malevolent sorcery". In general, the term applies to any magical act intended to cause harm or death to people or property.

The term appears in several historically important texts, notably the Formicarius, and the Malleus Maleficarum. The Knights Templar were also accused of maleficium. The Trial of the Knights Templar set a social standard for the popular belief in maleficium and witchcraft which contributed to the great European witch hunt.

In Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait area it is called "puripuri".

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© Airship Isabella 2012