animadversion

See also: animadversión

English

WOTD – 7 December 2009

Etymology

From French animadversion, from Latin animadversiō (“observation, criticism”), from animadvertō (“I pay attention”), from animus (“mind”) + advertō (“I turn to”).

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌænɪmædˈvɜːʒən/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˌænɪmædˈvɝːʒən /, /ˌænɪmædˈvɝːʃən/
Audio (US): (file)

Noun

animadversion (countable and uncountable, plural animadversions)

(countable) A criticism, a critical remark.
- January 1827, Sir Walter Scott, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott:
  [A] misconstruction or misinterpretation, nay, the misplacing of a comma, was in Gifford's eyes a crime worthy of the most severe animadversion.
- 1895, Elias Lyman Magoon, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, p. 357:
  While the censorious man is most severe in judging others, he is invariably the most ready to repel any animadversions made upon himself; upon the principle well understood in medical circles, that the feeblest bodies are always the most sensitive.
- 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 26:
  There is no need for us to be indignant. On the contrary we can now see that these animadversions of the Christian writers are the evidence of how and to what extent in the spread of Christianity over the world it had become fused with the Pagan cults previously existing.
(uncountable) The state or characteristic of being animadversive.
- 1603, (translator unknown), Essayes, volumes 5-6, translation of original by Michel de Montaigne, pages 3–4:
  He was deceived; for justice hath also knowledge and animadversion over such as gather stubble (as the common saying is) or looke about for grape-seed.
- 1788, Alexander Hamilton, “The Federalist Papers”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), number 67, The Executive Department:
  Nor have I scrupled, in so flagrant a case, to allow myself a severity of animadversion little congenial with the general spirit of these papers.
- 1830, Andrew Jackson, Second Annual Message to Congress:
  In a government like ours more especially should all public acts be, as far as practicable, simple, undisguised, and intelligible, that they may become fit subjects for the approbation to animadversion of the people.