Dictionary

animus en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæ.nɪ.məs/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin animus (“the mind, in a great variety of meanings: the rational soul in man, intellect, consciousness, will, intention, courage, spirit, sensibility, feeling, passion, pride, vehemence, wrath, etc., the breath, life, soul”), from Proto-Italic *anamos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”). Closely related to Latin anima, which is a feminine form.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions.
2. (uncountable, usually) A feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will.
   • The current row arose swiftly, sparked both by historical animus and jockeying over future power and place in Asia - and it surprised many observers in the depth of antipathy on both sides. 2005 April 22, Christian Science Monitor:
   • Despite the animus against him, Mélenchon came within an inch of making the presidential election run-off in 2022, just behind Le Pen. 2025 May 3, Leila Abboud, “Lunch with the FT: Jean-Luc Mélenchon”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3:
   • However, the Republican party's anti-ESG animus has undoubtedly played a role, according to Bloy. 2023 April 29, Kenza Bryan, “US investors ditch green funds on ‘woke capitalism’ backlash”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 14:
3. (uncountable, usually) Intention, motivation (of a legal person).
4. (qualifier:Jungian psychology, uncountable, usually) The masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality.
   • In the Jungian model of the psyche, the male has an internalized female counterpart, the anima; while the female has an internalized masculine counterpart, the animus. 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 31:

Forms

Deriveds

animus furandi · animus injuriandi · animus nocendi

Relateds

animose · unanimous · equanimity · anima · animosity

Synonyms

bad blood

Translations (22)

bg вражда (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · hi आशय (intention) · bg ненавист (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · bg неприязън (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · de Groll (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · cmn 心素 (intention) · de Abneigung (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · ru вражда́ (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · fi vihanpito (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · de Unterbewusstsein (the basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions) · pt ânimo (the basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions) · fi alitajunta (the basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions) · ru неприя́знь (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · bg анимус ((Jungian psychology) the masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality) · bg враждебност (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · de Feindseligkeit (a feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will) · ru а́нимус ((Jungian psychology) the masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality) · de Animus ((Jungian psychology) the masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality) · hi अभिप्राय (intention) · fi tarkoitus (intention) · pt animus ((Jungian psychology) the masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality) · hi इरादा (intention)