Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AN-I-MOS'I-TY, n. [L. animositas; Fr. animosité; from L. animosus, animated, courageous, enraged; from animus, spirit, mind, passion. So in Teutonic, mod, mind, signifies also pride, passion, anger. Animus, spirit, Gr. ανεμος, wind, breath, is from flowing, swelling, rushing, which gives the sense of violent action and passion. See Animal.]

Violent hatred, accompanied with active opposition; active enmity. Animosity differs from enmity, which maybe secret and inactive; and it expresses a less criminal passion than malice. Animosity seeks to gain a cause or destroy an enemy or rival, from hatred or private interest; malice seeks revenge for the sake of giving pain.