Etymologically
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animus

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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
  • 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