Word

animus \AN-uh-muhs\, noun

 

Meaning

1. Basic attitude or animating spirit; disposition; intention.

2. A feeling of ill will; animosity.

3. In Jungian psychology, the inner masculine part of the female personality [cf. [1]anima].

 

Examples

The seemingly anti-intellectual animus of the syllabus [the Syllabus of Errors, issued by Pope Pius IX in 1864] also disillusioned some converts, among them Thomas Arnold, who reverted to Anglicanism when he learned of it.

--Patrick Allitt, [2]Catholic Converts

It is important to note also that part of Kipling's animus against the Christian missionaries in India arose from his indignation at their destructive puritanism.

--Christopher Hitchens, "A Man of Permanent Contradictions,"[3]The Atlantic, June 2002

To teach the poor chump a lesson, the media mogul steals the burglar's lucky ring, an act of scornful hauteur that brings out the animus in Dortmunder.

--Marilyn Stasio, review of [4]M Is for Malice, by Sue Grafton, [5]New York Times, November 10, 1996

Extra

Animus is from Latin animus, "soul, character, disposition."

 

Paragraph

It started the day I learnt about the dishonest riksha-drivers. My animus against them increased day by day as I saw my hard-earned money being taken away by cheaters. It was a matter of a rupee when I travel from the station to my home and two rupees when I travel from home to the station on a different route. But when considered for longer routes, I literally ended up paying Rs. 5-7 each time. Realizing this, I couldn’t help quarrelling with the riksha-drivers each time I felt they were cheating. Unfortunately, I ended up cursing them against my nature.

 

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