Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “animus” come from?

animus (Latin) comes from Proto-Italic anamos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁mos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- — to breathe.

animus (Latin): That life-giving aspect which animates: life...

Definitions

  1. That life-giving aspect which animates: life...

Ancestry of “animus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Italicanamosbreath; spirit, soul, life force
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁mosbreath
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁-to breathe

Words derived from “animus”

  • animal
  • animation
  • unanimous
  • unanimously
  • inanimate
  • animate
  • animosity
  • unanimity
  • magnanimity
  • magnanimous
  • animus
  • anima
  • anime
  • animism
  • magnanimously
  • pusillanimous
  • animator
  • animalistic
  • pusillanimity
  • reanimate
  • animacy
  • animalism
  • animalcule
  • reanimation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- →