animation

Etymology

From Latin animatio, from animare, equivalent to animate + -ion.

noun

1. The act of animating, or giving life or spirit.
   […] by the animation of the same soul quickening that whole frame. 1647, Joseph Hall, Christ Mysticall; or the blessed union of Christ and his Members, as edited and reprinted in Josiah Pratt (editor), The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Joseph Hall, D.D., Volume 8, C. Wittingham (1808), page 217
2. (animation, in the sense of a cartoon) A sequence of still drawings or inanimate objects displayed in rapid succession to create the illusion of movement in motion pictures or computer graphics; the object (film, computer game, etc.) produced
3. The state of being lively, brisk, or full of spirit and vigor; vivacity; spiritedness
   He recited the story with great animation.
4. The condition of being animate or alive.
5. (linguistics) conversion from the inanimate to animate grammatical category
   The constraints are not so hard and fast that exceptional sentences do not occur. In particular animation and disanimation can temporarily suspend the system. 1992, Samuel E. Martin, A Reference Grammar of Korean, page 291
6. Activities offered by a holiday resort encompassing activities that include movement, joy, leisure and spectacle, such as games, sports, shows, events, etc.