animus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈa.nɪ.mʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.ni.mus]^[1]

Forms

animus m (genitive animī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *anamo- (“breath, spirit”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁-mo- (“breath”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”).^[2][1] Cognate with Oscan anamúm (“breath, spirit”), Old Irish anim (“soul”), Ancient Greek ἄνεμος (ánemos, “wind”) and Armenian հողմ (hołm, “wind”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was the mind or soul as opposed to the body, and the element of air as the principle of life.^[3] It was the seat of consciousness, thought, attention and intention (in animō habēre “to intend”), of desire and will, and of feelings such as grief, pleasure, anger, pride and courage.^[3] It also meant a person's disposition and character, as Ennius' “o devotion of mind”.^[3] Döderlein says anima is the soul as the principle of life, which ceases with the breath, while animus is the soul as the seat of thought and will.^[5]

In medieval Latin it was the mind, the spirit and the inner self, and character, courage, pride, purpose or animosity.^[6][7] It was borrowed as Italian animo and Spanish ánimo.^[1] English animosity comes from animōsus, and English borrowed animus in 1820.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the mind.^[3][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of grief and of character.^[3][4]
• early 15th century – English animosity is recorded, first as “bravery”.^[8]
• 1820 – English animus is recorded as “temper”.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. The mind, soul, as opposed to the body.^[3][9]
2. The principle of life, life.^[3][1]
3. The mind as the seat of thought, attention, intention, in animō habēre, to intend.^[3]
4. The seat of desire, will.^[3]
5. The seat of feelings; feelings, attitude.^[3]
6. Anger, animosity (usually plural).^[3]
7. Pride; courage.^[3]
8. Disposition, character.^[3][1]

Word family

• anima
• animaequus
• animitus
• animōsus
• animulus
• aequanimis
• aequanimus
• flexanimus
• longanimis
• magnanimis
• magnanimus
• multanimis

Related words

• animō
• anhēlus
• English animus
• English animosity
• English animal

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press