animus

[ an-uh-muhs ]

noun

1. strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity.
2. motivating purpose or intention; animating spirit.
3. (in the psychology of C. G. Jung) the masculine principle, especially as present in women. Compare anima ( def 2b ).

animus

/ ˈænɪməs /

noun

1. intense dislike; hatred; animosity
2. motive, intention, or purpose
3. (in Jungian psychology) the masculine principle present in the female unconscious See also anima

Word History and Origins

Origin of animus¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin: literally, “mind, spirit, courage, passion, wrath”; akin to Greek ánemos “wind”; anima

Word History and Origins

Origin of animus¹

C19: from Latin: mind, spirit

Example Sentences

The animus had little to do with his space company, Blue Origin.

From Quartz

“We believe the time has come to understand and acknowledge the historical animus that LGBT federal employees and military personnel faced for generations from their own government to ensure it can never happen again,” Trammell said.

From Washington Blade

Authorities say they are not certain, at this point, that the alleged shooter, Robert Aaron Long, 21, was motivated by racial animus.

From Washington Post

AWS’s decision to effectively terminate Parler’s account is apparently motivated by political animus.

From Fortune

Pan has pushed hard over the years for laws mandating vaccines for children to attend school and, like Offit, has earned the animus of the anti-vax community for his efforts.

From Time

But the real animus seems directed towards the language changing Dodd-Frank.

From The Daily Beast

Their sad fame comes at the hands of those who push the narrative that white cops are motivated by racial animus to kill blacks.

From The Daily Beast

The depth of rage, animus and violence that was directed at him—“Spittle flying, the N word flying”—continues to astound him.

From The Daily Beast

And our outrage here has nothing to do with “racial animus.”

From The Daily Beast

Specifically anti-black animus is not just one ingredient in the “salad bowl” of injustice.

From The Daily Beast

In a long experience he had never seen animus against a witness so recklessly exhibited as by counsel in this case.

From Project Gutenberg

I submit that this assists us to understand the animus of the converted Mason and the lengths to which it has taken him.

From Project Gutenberg

It is impossible not to admire the lofty tone, free from personal animus, which is seen in all Calhoun's speeches.

From Project Gutenberg

Animus, an′im-us, n. intention: actuating spirit: prejudice against.

From Project Gutenberg

Pierre rapidly gained control of his temper, but he shifted his animus from the lust of gain to the glutting of revenge.

From Project Gutenberg