rhizoverbBeta
DictionarypremeditationAdvance planning
noun

premeditation

pree-med-ih-TAY-shun/ˌpriːˌmedɪˈteɪʃn/

Planning or consideration before an action, especially a crime.

The untouched gloves and prepared plan suggest premeditation before the fictional burglary.

Before acting, man carefully plans a burglary using simple hand-drawn house floor plan with a red route line toward a closed jewelry box icon, clock and untouched dark gloves beside notebook; only broad generic planning symbolism, no technical security details or words, thoughtful purposeful posture, white ground.
Etymology
preLatinbefore
+meditLatinto consider
+ationLatinaction or process

Considering beforehand is the central idea: thought precedes the action. In the selected sense, especially concerning a crime, the word names that advance deliberation or planning.

In context

DARKLIVITY13:27
It was about premeditation. >> It was like the killer didn't just want to harm them. They wanted control. They wanted isolation. They wanted to be sure they got the job done.
A Home Invasion, A Murder, and A Child that SAW everything!

More examples

  • The written plan suggested premeditation rather than a sudden impulse.
  • The essay examined the difference between anger and premeditation.
  • Careful premeditation shaped every step of the scheme.

Forms

premeditation

premeditated adjective — planned beforehand

Similar words

planning
Planning is any advance arrangement; premeditation especially stresses prior consideration before wrongdoing.
deliberation
Deliberation carefully considers a choice; premeditation locates that thought before the act.