Where does “anima” come from?
Anima derives from Latin anima, related to Latin animus, which comes from Proto-Italic anamos and Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁mos, ultimately from the root h₂enh₁- meaning breath or spirit.
anima (English): The soul or animating principle of a living...
Definitions
- The soul or animating principle of a living...
Ancestry of “anima”, step by step
anima traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin anima
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | anima | soul, spirit, life; air, breeze; breath |
| 2 | Latin | animus | That life-giving aspect which animates: life... |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | anamos | breath; spirit, soul, life force |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁mos | breath |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁- | to breathe |
via Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁‑
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁‑ | to breathe |