#14 - Animer

At first glance, the word animer means exactly what it sounds like: "to animate"--or in the reflexive verb s'animer, "to become animated."  Some of the WordReference definitions include:

• to bring to life
• to fill with life
• to move
• to stir 

It also stretches into a sense of drive and motivation, for example: "C'est sa passion du travail bien fait qui l'anime" ("It's his passion for a job well done that motivates him.")

But beyond that, the word animer crosses into new territory where it becomes both untranslatable and a bit of a faux ami (see Untranslatable #10).