Animosities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Intense antipathies or resentments directed at others may result in prolonged disputes or tensions among groups or individuals
2. Strong feelings of hostility and enmity can create conflicts that manifest as deep-rooted rivalries or personal grudges
3. Strong negative feelings toward someone or something that often lead to conflict or tension

Etymology: "Animosities" is simply the plural of "animosity," so the story is that of the singular noun. Its root is Latin "animus," which meant "courage, spirit, mind" and was the source of a whole family of English words including "animate" and "animal." The Latin adjective "animosus" meant "full of spirit" or "spirited," and from it came "animositas," meaning courage or vehemence. The sense of "courage" did not fade so much as tilt: spirit and vehemence could easily turn into fierce feeling, and fierce feeling could turn hostile. The word reached English by way of French "animosité," which carried that Latin sense of vehement spirit into the language. Over time, English speakers narrowed it toward the negative side of that energy, so that an animosity today is a settled, active hatred rather than a display of bravery. The shift from "spirit" to "enmity" is a good reminder that words for passion often swing between admiration and hostility depending on how the emotion is directed.

Synonyms: hostilities, resentments, hatreds, antipathies, enmities

Antonyms: friendships, affection, harmony, love, goodwill