Rancor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹæŋ.kɚ/

Definitions

1. A strong and enduring sense of bitterness or hatred towards someone, often stemming from feelings of unfair treatment or grievances, characterizes this feeling
2. This term encapsulates a deep-seated animosity that persists over time and arises from a sense of betrayal or injustice by others
3. A prolonged and intense feeling of resentment or animus toward another individual often resulting from perceived wrongs characterizes this emotion

Etymology: The most surprising link here is with a word on the kitchen shelf. Latin "rancor" meant rancidity, the sour smell of spoiled fat or meat, before it ever meant a grudge. It comes from "ranceō", "to be rotten or putrid", and that same root gave English "rancid". The jump from spoiled food to bitter resentment is a metaphor that the Romans made themselves. A grudge was treated as something that festers and goes bad inside a person, much as meat does when left too long. Latin writers used "rancor" in both senses, and the grudge sense is the one that carried into later languages. The word reached English in the 13th century as Middle English "rancour", borrowed through Old French "rancor". English later settled on the shorter spelling "rancor", which is the form used in American English today.

Synonyms: bitterness, resentment, animosity, ill will, hostility

Antonyms: friendliness, goodwill, benevolence, sympathy, forgiveness