Definition of animadversion
1 : a critical and usually censorious remark —often used with on
2 : adverse criticism
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Did You Know?
Animadversion comes ultimately from the Latin phrase animum advertere, meaning "to turn the mind to." 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."
Origin and Etymology of animadversion
Latin animadversion-, animadversio, from animadvertere
First Known Use: 1583
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