animality

animality, animalism are not always clearly distinguished when they are used to denote animal nature, character, or springs of action in a man or in men. Animality is often preferred when it is desired to suggest likenesses between men and animals rather than differences, and animalism when one wishes to convey in addition all the derogatory implications of sensuality or sensualism

{

he disliked union with a woman whom he had never seen; moreover, when he did see her, she disappointed him, and he begat his first child in mere animality— Forster

}

{

puritanism was a natural and necessary revolt . . . against that naturalism which threatened to end in sheer animalism— Kingsley

}

Analogous words: virility, maleness, masculinity (see corresponding adjectives at MALE)