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animus


an·i·mus

noun \ˈa-nə-məs\

Definition of ANIMUS

1
: basic attitude or governing spirit : disposition, intention
2
: a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will
3
: an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung — compare anima

Examples of ANIMUS

  1. She felt an animus against them.
  2. <feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her>

Origin of ANIMUS

Latin, spirit, mind, courage, anger
First Known Use: 1816

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

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