Animus

Etymology
From animus:, closely related to anima:, which is a feminine form; see anima.

Noun

 * 1) The basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions.
 * 2) A feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will.
 * "The current row arose swiftly, sparked both by historical animus and jockeying over future power and place in Asia - and it surprised many observers in the depth of antipathy on both sides." &mdash; Christian Science Monitor, April 22, 2005
 * 1)  The masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality.

Related terms

 * anima
 * animose
 * animosity
 * unanimous

Thesaurus
acrimony; afflatus; aim; ambition; anima; animating spirit; animation; animosity; antagonism; antipathy; appetence; appetency; appetite; aptitude; aspiration; bad blood; bent; bias; bitter feeling; bitterness; cast; character; choice; command; conation; conatus; constitution; counsel; decision; desideration; desideratum; design; desire; determination; diathesis; discretion; discrimination; disposition; divine afflatus; eccentricity; effect; elan vital; enlivenment; exhilaration; fancy; feud; fire; firing; fixed purpose; free choice; free will; function; genius; grain; grudge; hard feelings; hostility; idea; idiosyncrasy; ill blood; ill feeling; ill will; inclination; individualism; infection; infusion; inspiration; intendment; intent; intention; kidney; leaning; liking; lust; make; makeup; meaning; mental set; mettle; mind; mind-set; mold; motive; moving spirit; nature; nisus; objective; passion; plan; pleasure; pneuma; point; predilection; predisposition; preference; prejudice; proclivity; project; propensity; proposal; prospectus; psyche; purpose; rancor; resolution; resolve; sake; set; sexual desire; slant; soreness; sourness; spirit; stamp; strain; streak; stripe; striving; study; temper; temperament; tendency; turn; turn of mind; twist; type; velleity; vendetta; venom; view; virulence; vital force; vitriol; volition; warp; will; will power; wish