premeditation

noun | \ pri-ˌme-də-ˈtā-shən \ | pre·med·i·ta·tion

1. : an act or instance of premeditating; specifically : consideration or planning of an act beforehand designed so that it requires premeditation to tamper with it murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed…intentionally and with premeditation —Kansas Statutes Annotated — see also cold blood, murder — compare intent : consideration or planning of an act beforehand designed so that it requires premeditation to tamper with it murder in the first degree is the killing of a human being committed…intentionally and with premeditation —Kansas Statutes Annotated — see also cold blood, murder — compare intent

   Note: The terms premeditation malice aforethought deliberate, and willful are often used in statutes either along with or instead of intent to describe the necessary mental state for a crime. In some jurisdictions the premeditation has to occur only moments before the act, while in others it must precede the act by an appreciable amount of time.