anima

American  

[an-uh-muh] / ˈæn ə mə /

noun

animas plural

1. soul; life.

2. (in the psychology of C. G. Jung)

   1. the inner personality that is turned toward the unconscious of the individual (contrasted with persona).

   2. the feminine principle, especially as present in men.

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anima British  

/ ˈænɪmə /

noun

1. 1. the feminine principle as present in the male unconscious

   2. the inner personality, which is in communication with the unconscious See also animus

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• animas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anima

1920–25; < Latin: breath, vital force, soul, spirit

Compare meaning

How does anima compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anima vs. animus

Explanation

Your anima is the unconscious part of your mind that works automatically, without introspection or awareness. Some psychologists believe your anima affects your dreams, fears, and habits. Psychologist Carl Jung came up with the ideas of anima and animus, parts of your psyche — or spirit — that connect with the deepest, most subconscious aspects of the mind. Originally, Jung used anima to talk about the feminine parts of a man's personality. The Latin origin of the word is animus, "rational soul, life, or intelligence," from a root that means "to blow" or "to breathe."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anima animas

What fellow analyst Carl Jung called the anima, the feminine, is denied; the animus is embraced.

From Golf Digest ● Jul. 12, 2018

There is lots of talk about anima and animus, about how men need to make peace with their inner feminine.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 9, 2018

Here are some interesting references regarding poetic attributes of a positive anima.

From New York Times ● Oct. 18, 2016

All the while retaining the anima and spirit of a classic, without the deadening encumberments of electronics like traction or stability controls.

From The Verge ● Feb. 2, 2016

Introduced was a careful sentence to bring della Porta’s discussion of the soul in line with Christian teaching, and all references to the world soul, the anima mundi, were now carefully turned into quotations.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

As they were coming out of the cathedral, Mrs. Shortridge asked L'Isle the meaning of the words on a tablet near them: "Oy se sacca animas."

From The Actress in High Life An Episode in Winter Quarters by Bowen, Sue Petigru

Twenty-nine arrobas and ten libras of wrought iron for the manufacture of animas, sledge hammers, tongs, and hammers with which to work the iron for the artillery.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 1569-1576 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century by Blair, Emma Helen

First, saith he, it is plain by verse 31, they took it in animas, upon their souls,—a soul matter they made of it: there needs no soul for feria or festum, play or feasting.

From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by Gillespie, George

This incident was put down by the populace to the intervention in his favour on the part of the host of departed spirits known as the "ejercito de las animas."

From South America by Koebel, W. H. (William Henry)