animadversion

noun

an·i·mad·ver·sion ˌa-nə-ˌmad-ˈvər-zhən

-məd-,

-ˈvər-shən

1

: a critical and usually censorious remark

—often used with on

2

: adverse criticism

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Animadversion Has Latin Roots

Animadversion comes ultimately from the Latin phrase animum advertere, meaning "to turn the mind to." The first part, anima, comes from the Latin word for "mind" or "soul" and gives us animal and animate. It is easy to see how we also get adverse and adversary from advertere, especially when we remember that "to turn to" easily becomes "to turn against." Other English words descended from advertere include advert, meaning "to turn the attention (to)" or "to make reference (to)," and advertise.

Word History

Etymology

Latin animadversion-, animadversio, from animadvertere

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of animadversion was in 1583

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Animadversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animadversion. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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