''Animo'' is a
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
legal term meaning 'with intention' or 'with purpose'.
''Animo'' can be neutral or negative, "a double edged sword," but is more often negative - and rarely positive.
It was formerly used only in
criminal law
Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It proscribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and Well-being, welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal l ...
, but later in tort cases, which was used by juries to determine "ill will" of the defendant, as in 'animosity'.
A number of
Latinism
A Latinism (from ) is a word, idiom, or structure in a language other than Latin that is derived from, or suggestive of, the Latin language. The Term ''Latinism'' refers to those loan words that are borrowed into another language directly from ...
s developed: ''animo furandi'' (intent to steal), ''animo felonico'' (intent to commit a felony), and ''animo defamadi'' (intent to defame).
These were all negative, but neutral forms arose in
estate law
Property law is the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership in real property (land) and personal property. Property refers to legally protected claims to resources, such as land and personal property, including intellectual prope ...
: ''animo testandi'' (
animus testandi or testamentary intent) and ''animo revocandi'' (intent to revoke a will).
Additional Latinisms include ''animo manendi'' (intent to remain) and ''animo revertendi'' (intent to return), which are essential elements of
domicile
Domicile may refer to:
* Home, a place where someone lives
* Domicile (astrology), the zodiac sign over which a planet has rulership
* Domicile (law), the status or attribution of being a permanent resident in a particular jurisdiction
See also
* ...
.
''
Animus nocendi
In jurisprudence, () is the subjective state of mind of the perpetrator of a crime, with reference to the exact knowledge of illegal content of his behaviour, and of its possible consequences.
In most modern legal systems, the is required as an ...
'', derived from the word, is still used to describe the intent to commit a crime, and ''animus donandi'' to show the intent to give a gift or bequest.
References
Latin legal terminology
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