animadversion
[an-uh-mad-vur-zhuh n, -shuh n]
- an unfavorable or censorious comment: to make animadversions on someone's conduct.
- the act of criticizing.
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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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for animadversion on Thesaurus.com1. aspersion, reflection, derogation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for animadversion
Historical Examples
The same undercurrent of jealousy operates in our reception of animadversion.
Modern Painters Volume I (of V)John Ruskin
I did not wish to carry with me the animadversion of anybody.
But Mr. Motley comes in for his share of animadversion in Mr. Davis's letter.
Memoir of John Lothrop Motley, CompleteOliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
I have carefully abstained from casting a single reflection or animadversion of my own.
However absurd these may be, they are not for our purpose proper subjects of animadversion.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
animadversion
- criticism or censure
- a carefully considered observation
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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."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper