animadversion
(ˌænɪmədˈvɜːʃən)
[ad. L. animadversiōn-em, n. of action f. animadvert-ĕre: see animadvert. Cf. Fr. animadversion 16th c. in Littré, which may have been the immediate model.]
gen. The action or process of animadverting, or its embodiment in words.
I. The turning or directing of the attention.
† 1. The action of turning the attention to a subject; the observation or consideration of anything. Obs.
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iv. §1 (1873) 27, I have no meaning..to make any exact animadversion of the errors and impediments in matters of learning. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. 63 The due animadversion and inspection of their own Minds. 1738 J. Keill Anim. Œcon. Pref. 30 Accurate Animadversion and Comparison of..the appearances. 1795 T. Taylor Apuleius (1822) 61 Returning to an animadversion of the present transactions. |
† 2. The faculty or habit of noticing or observing; attention, perception, conscious mental action. Obs.
| 1601 Chester Love's Mart. clxxxi, The vnsatiate Sparrow..Foretels true things by animaduertion. 1681 Glanvill Sad. Trium. ii. (1726) 464 For in an infinite Life as God is, there can be no distraction, his animadversion necessarily being infinite. 1682 Rust Disc. Truth 177 Food which without their intention or animadversion is concocted in their Ventricle. |
† 3. (with pl.) The action of calling the attention of others; notice, monition, warning. Obs.
| 1647 J. Sprigge Ang. Rediv. iii. vi. (1854) 174 His excellency had animadversions from the committee..of incursions made by the king's horse. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. I. i. 42 They all knew Cæsar's fate, by contemning, or neglecting such animadversions. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 443 ¶7 Another timely Animadversion is absolutely necessary. |
II. Judicial or critical attention.
4. The action of taking judicial cognizance of offences, and of inflicting punishment; concr. with pl. a penal visitation. arch.
| 1646 H. Lawrence Comm. & Warre w. Angels 65 O wish rather the animadversion to fall upon your bodies and estates. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 157 A [ecclesiastical] Censure has a relation to a Spiritual Punishment, but an [ecclesiastical] Animadversion has only a respect to a Temporal one, as Degradation, and the Delivering of a Person over to the Secular Court. 1750 Wesley Wks. 1872 VII. 394 Of all divine animadversions, there is none more horrid..than this [an earthquake]. 1839–42 Alison Hist. Eur. (1849) VIII. I. §73. 198 A power whose lightest measure of animadversion would be banishment. |
5. The utterance of criticism, usually of a hostile kind; censure, reproof, blame.
| 1599 Thynne Animadv. 68 Fyve especiall thinges, woorthye the animadversione. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. vi, He hath done more worthy of dispraise and animadversion, then worthy of commendation. 1680 in Somers Tracts II. 84 Could not possibly escape the Animadversion of the House. 1751 Johnson Rambl. No. 155 ¶1 No weakness of the human mind has more frequently incurred animadversion. 1835 I. Taylor Spirit. Desp. iii. 107 A perfect liberty of animadversion upon clerical conduct. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Organ. §i. 5 Our temper at this moment should not be one of animadversion and cavil. |
6. concr. A criticism, comment, observation, or remark (usually, but not always, implying censure).
| 1599 Thynne Animadv. 2 My petye animaduersions vppon the Annotacions and Corrections..deliuered by master Thomas Speghte vppon the last editione of Chaucers Workes. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles III. 162 His incomparable animadversions on God's love to mankind. 1740–61 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) III. 498 Our landlady and her maids making animadversions on our conduct. 1839 Hallam Hist. Lit. II. ii. vii. §23. 303 He made some sharp animadversions on this ode. |