ANIMUS
animus (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s). [Latin] 1. Ill will; animosity.
class-based animus.A prejudicial disposition toward a discernible, usu. constitutionally
protected, group of persons. • A class-based animus is an essential element of a civil-rights
conspiracy case. [Cases: Civil Rights 1033(1), 1137. C.J.S. Civil Rights §§ 18, 20, 23–24, 34,
39–40.]
2. Intention. • All the following Latin “animus” phrases have analogous adverbial forms
beginning with “animo” (the definition merely needing “with” at the outset). For example, animo
furandi means “with the intention to steal,” animo testandi means “with testamentary intention,”
animus adimendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ad-i-men-dI). [Latin] The intention to
animus belligerendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s b<<schwa>>-lij-<<schwa>>-ren-d I).
[Latin] The intention to wage war.
animus cancellandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s kan-s<<schwa>>-lan-dI). [Latin] The
intention to cancel. • This phrase usu. refers to a will.
animus capiendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s kap-ee-en-dI). [Latin] The intention to take
or capture.
animus contrahentium (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s kon-tr<<schwa>>-hen-shee-<<
schwa>>m). [Latin] The intention of the contracting parties.
animus dedicandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ded-<<schwa>>-kan-dI). [Latin] The
intention to donate or dedicate.
animus defamandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s def-<<schwa>>-man-dI). [Latin] The
intention to defame. [Cases: Libel and Slander 2. C.J.S. Libel and Slander; Injurious Falsehood §
43.]
animus derelinquendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s dee-rel-ing-kwen-dI). [Latin] The
intention to abandon.
animus deserendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s des-<<schwa>>-ren-dI). [Latin] The
intention to desert (usu. a spouse, child, etc.). [Cases: Divorce 37(3). C.J.S. Divorce § 52.]
animus differendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s dif-<<schwa>>-ren-dI). [Latin] The
intention to obtain a delay. • The phrase animo differendi (“with the intention to obtain a delay”)
appeared in reference to a presumption that certain actions of a defendant were designed to obtain
a delay. A
animus domini (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s dom-<<schwa>>-nI). [Latin] Roman law. The
intent to exercise dominion over a thing; the intent to own something. Cf. animus possidendi.
“All possession has two elements, a physical and a mental, which the Romans distinguish as
corpus and animus. The first is the physical relation of the possessor to the object. The second is
his sense of that relation. If he is minded to deal with the thing as his own (animus domini —
animus sibi habendi), no matter whether rightfully or wrongfully, he possesses in the fullest
sense.” R.W. Lee, The Elements of Roman Law 179–80 (4th ed. 1956).
animus donandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s doh-nan-dI). [Latin] The intention of
donating; the intention to give. [Cases: Gifts 15.]
animus et factum (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s et fak-t<<schwa>>m). [Latin “mind and
deed”] The intention and the deed. • This phrase can refer to a person’s intent to reside in a given
country permanently or for an inde-finite period.
animus felonicus (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s fe-loh-ni-k<<schwa>>s). [Latin] The
intention to commit a felony. [Cases: Criminal Law 20. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 31–33, 35–39;
Negligence § 913.]
animus furandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s fyuu-ran-dI). [Latin] The intention to steal. •
In Roman law, the focus was on the unauthorized use of property rather than an intent to
permanently deprive the owner of it. [Cases: Larceny 1, 3. C.J.S. Larceny §§ 1(1, 2), 9, 25–29.]
“[An] intent to deprive the owner of his property permanently, or an intent to deal with
another’s property un-lawfully in such a manner as to create an obviously unreasonable risk of
permanent deprivation, [is] all that is required to constitute the animus furandi—or intent to steal.”
Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 332–33 (3d ed. 1982).
animus gerendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s j<<schwa>>-ren-dI). [Latin] The intention to
act as heir.
animus immiscendi et adeundi hereditatem (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s im-i-sen-d I et
ad-ee-<<schwa>>n-dI h<<schwa>>-red-i-tay-t<<schwa>>m). [Latin] The intention to meddle
with and take up a succession.
animus indorsandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s in-dor-san-dI). [Law Latin] Hist. The
intention of indorsing. • One who indorsed a check animo indorsandi would be liable for the
amount if the check was dishonored.
animus injuriandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s in-joor-ee-an-dI). [Latin] The intention to
injure, esp. to insult.
animus lucrandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s loo-kran-dI). [Latin] The intention to make a
gain or profit.
animus malus (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s mal-<<schwa>>s). [Latin] Evil intent.
animus manendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s m<<schwa>>-nen-dI). [Latin “will to A
remain”] The intention to remain; the intention to establish a permanent residence. — Also termed
animus remandendi. [Cases: Domicile 4(2). C.J.S. Domicile §§ 11–19, 25–27, 29–34, 37–40.]
animus morandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s m<<schwa>>-ran-dI). [Latin “will to tarry”]
The intention to remain. • Although animus morandi is broadly synonymous with animus manendi,
morandi suggests less per-manency.
animus nocendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s noh-sen-dI). [Latin] The intention to harm.
animus obligandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ahb-li-gan-dI). [Latin] The intention to
enter into an obligation.
animus occidendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ahk-si-den-dI). [Latin] The intention to
animus possidendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s pah-s<<schwa>>-den-dI). [Latin] Roman
law. The intent to possess a thing. Cf. animus domini.
animus quo (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s kwoh). [Latin] The intent with which; motive.
animus recipiendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ri-sip-ee-en-dI). [Latin] The intention to
animus recuperandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ri-k[y]oo-p<<schwa>>-ran-dI). [Latin]
The intention to recover.
animus remanendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s rem-<<schwa>>-nen-dI). [Latin] See
animus manendi.
animus republicandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ree-pub-l<<schwa>>-kan-dI). [Latin]
The intention to republish.
animus restituendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s r<<schwa>>-sti-tyoo-en-dI). [Latin] The
intention to restore.
animus revertendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s ree-v<<schwa>>r-ten-dI). [Latin] The
intention to return (to a place). • In Roman law, this intent was a factor in deciding whether
animals, such as doves and bees, remained in a person’s ownership.
animus revocandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s rev-oh-kan-dI). [Latin] The intention to
revoke (a will) <her destruction of the will indicated that she had animus revocandi>. [Cases:
Wills 170. C.J.S. Wills §§ 390, 393, 413–414.]
animus signandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s sig-nan-dI). [Latin] The intention to sign.
[Cases: Wills 72. C.J.S. Wills §§ 169–170.]
animus testandi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s tes-tan-dI). [Latin] Testamentary intention.
animus ulciscendi (an-<<schwa>>-m<<schwa>>s <<schwa>>l-si-sen-dI). [Latin] The
intention to take revenge. [Blacks Law 8th]