animadversion

American  

[an-uh-mad-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn] / ˌæn ə mædˈvɜr ʒən, -ʃən /

noun

animadversions plural

1. an unfavorable or censorious comment.

   to make animadversions on someone's conduct.

   Synonyms:

   derogation, reflection, aspersion

2. the act of criticizing.

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animadversion British  

/ ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. criticism or censure

2. a carefully considered observation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• animadversional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• animadversions
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

Animadversion is a harsh, critical comment — or even a public censure. You don't hear it very often, but in Puritan times, dressing in bright colors and swearing would bring many animadversions down upon you. Animadversion comes from the verb animadvert. In Middle English, animadvert meant simply to pay attention — to "turn your mind to" something, from the Latin animus ("mind") + ad- ("to") + vertere ("turn"). Anyone with parents can understand how a word that means "pay attention" can turn into a word that means "criticize."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

animadversion animadversions

So what is it, exactly, that fuels the animadversion against Martin Amis?

From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2020

Later the conference re-elected Bishop Cannon, despite considerable animadversion, to the board of Temperance and Social Service.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Poppycock," was the virtual animadversion passed by U. S. Rear Admiral W. W. Phelps.

From Time Magazine Archive

This may have been the animadversion of a man who hated them both.

From Time Magazine Archive

This amusement, indeed, was obtained at the expense of incurring some animadversion.

From Discipline by Brunton, Mary

But he still had access to the social network of Washington journalists, his base constituency, always available to be entertained with his private animadversions of other politicians.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 11, 2020

He overcomes, strangely, the animadversions of the young waitress.

From Time Magazine Archive

No man who has been in Paradise for seven minutes can be expected to pay much attention to the animadversions of a temporal court.

From Time Magazine Archive

If he made a return speaking tour, he might be forced into a heated defense of the World Court by the animadversions of opponents against his speeches on the way out.

From Time Magazine Archive

He looked across the smooth stretch of the bay to where the object of his animadversions lay swinging to the tide.

From In Strange Company A Story of Chili and the Southern Seas by Boothby, Guy Newell