animose

Forms

animōsē (comparative animōsius, superlative animōsissimē)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin animōsus (“spirited, courageous”) + -ē.^[2][1][3] The adjective is formed from animus (“spirit, mind”), which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *anamo- (“breath, spirit”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁-mo- (“breath”), comparing Oscan anams (“courage or breath”), Old Irish anim (“soul”) and Ancient Greek ἄνεμος (ánemos, “wind”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,^[3] who in the Philippics praises an act done not only courageously and bravely but also with thought and wisdom.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It is in a spirited way, courageously, and in a high-minded way: Cicero speaks of living magnificently, gravely and with spirit.^[2][5] It is also eagerly, keenly: Seneca says a merchant pays his vow more eagerly than a passenger, the Digest has bidding eagerly at an auction, and Suetonius collecting gems most eagerly.^[2][5] Wiktionary also gives proudly, angrily and passionately.^[1]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of a courageous act.^[2][5][3]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of paying a vow eagerly.^[2][3]
• c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of collecting gems.^[5][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In a spirited way, courageously, boldly.^[2][5][1]
2. In a high-minded way, nobly.^[2]
3. Eagerly, keenly, passionately.^[2][5][1]

Related words

• animōsus

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press