ˈanəməs noun
( -es )
Etymology: Latin, mind, soul — more at animate
1.
a. : intention , objective
his animus is not to overlook the progress made
the animus that led to the expansion of the machine was narrowly utilitarian — Lewis Mumford
b. : effort or tendency as directed toward a definite, often inevitable, but not always clearly or consciously recognized end
the animus of war is to enforce uniformity — Lewis Mumford
youthful animus toward happiness
c. : pervading and characteristic approach or treatment : dominant tone : ideological attitude : governing spirit
other novelists of the same political animus — Partisan Review
the curious animus of that philosophy
d. : breadth of vision especially as a vitalizing and creative force : inspiration
too simple and too little charged with animus — F.R.Leavis
an important writer with a really interesting animus — Donald Barr
2. : life-giving spirit : animating principle of life ; specifically : the active or rational soul
that spiritual animus so universally needed — Mary B. Eddy
3. : ill will, antagonism, or hostility usually controlled but deep-seated and sometimes virulent : animosity
a large school of thought cherishes a curious animus against what it calls intellectualism — W.R.Inge
calmly and without animus
an animus against the plaintiff
the antimodernistic animus (whatever is, is wrong) — R.B.Heilman
Synonyms: see enmity