anima

Meaning

1. The soul or animating principle of a living thing, especially as contrasted with the animus.
2. The inner self (not the external persona) of a person that is in touch with the unconscious as opposed to the persona.
3. The unconscious feminine aspect of a person.

Synonyms

soul

spirit

apparition

ghost

👻

mind

psyche

quintessence

shadow

choice

being

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈænɪmə/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin anima (“a current of air, wind, air, breath, the vital principle, life, soul”), sometimes equivalent to animus (“mind”), both from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe, blow”); see animus. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄνεμος (ánemos, “wind”), Old English anda (“anger, envy, zeal”). More at onde.