animus

Meanings

1. The basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions.
2. A feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will.
3. Intention, motivation (of a legal person).
4. The masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin animus (“the mind, in a great variety of meanings: the rational soul in man, intellect, consciousness, will, intention, courage, spirit, sensibility, feeling, passion, pride, vehemence, wrath, etc., the breath, life, soul”), from Proto-Italic *anamos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”). Closely related to Latin anima, which is a feminine form.