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animadversion

[an-uh-mad-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn]
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noun
  1. an unfavorable or censorious comment: to make animadversions on someone's conduct.
  2. the act of criticizing.

Origin of animadversion

1590–1600; < Latin animadversiōn- (stem of animadversiō) a heeding, censure, equivalent to animadvers(us) (past participle of animadvertere to heed, censure; see animadvert) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsan·i·mad·ver·sion·al, adjective

Synonyms for animadversion

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1. aspersion, reflection, derogation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for animadversion

criticism, knock, perception, observation, faultfinding, slur, censure, accusation, flak

Examples from the Web for animadversion

Historical Examples of animadversion

British Dictionary definitions for animadversion

animadversion

noun
  1. criticism or censure
  2. a carefully considered observation
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for animadversion
n.

1590s, "criticism, blame," also sometimes in early use simply "notice, attention" (now obsolete), from Latin animadversionem (nominative animadversio) "investigation, inquiry; perception, observation," noun of action from past participle stem of animadverte "to take cognizance of," literally "to turn the mind to," from animum, accusative of animus "mind" (see animus), + advertere "to turn to" (see advertise). The sense of "to take notice of as a fault" was in Latin; in fact animadverto at times was a euphemism for "to punish with death."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper