Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ANIMADVERSION
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Grumpy Cat. She was animosity in animal form.
I get a little grumpy when I think of how the lovely Latin animus ("the mind"), the one that gave us such beautiful words--animal, animate--also gave us ugly ones, like animosity ("hatred, hostility"), animus itself ("active hatred, active hostility"), and the monstrosity we're checking out today: animadversion ("hostile criticism").
Don't get me wrong, though. I appreciate the ugly word animadversion, like an artist appreciates a violently ugly color. (Like hunter's orange? Puce? The "sewage-tinted hue" known as "Pantone 448 C"? Click at your own risk.)
Still, animadversion is definitely the ugliest cousin from the Latin animus family, which includes equanimous, longanimous, magnanimous, and unanimous.
Could you define each of those four as "something-minded"? That is, "equanimous" is even-minded, "longanimous" is... (If you automatically said "long-minded," you're almost there!)
make your point with...
"ANIMADVERSION"
This long, ugly, crazy-sounding word has Latin roots that mean "turning the mind toward." Apparently when you turn your mind toward something, it's often to criticize it: to say why it's bad.
When you animadvert on or against something, you criticize it strongly or put blame on it.
So, animadversion is strong criticism.
The word can be countable, too: animadversions are strong criticisms.
Pronunciation:
AN um ad VERZ yun
Part of speech:
Noun, both the countable kind ("their animadversions against him") and the uncountable kind ("their animadversion against him").
Other forms:
The only other form we use these days is the plural noun: "animadversions."
If you want to sound very old-fashioned, you could use the verb and talk about someone animadverting on someone or something.
How to use it:
This word has a lofty, snooty, literary tone. I mean, look at it! It's five syllables long, and ultra-Latin-y.
Talk about someone's animadversions on or against a certain topic or person: "her animadversions on the patriarchy," "his animadversions against these lawmakers."
You might refer to someone's tweet, comment, speech, post, article, or other creation as an animadversion. "This episode was a fascinating animadversion against flat-earthers."
Or, talk about people making (or issuing, hearing, reading, believing, or rejecting) animadversions.
Or, talk about things or people being the subject or the object of animadversion--it's the same thing (that is, the topic or the target of the criticism, respectively). "After refusing to lead her students in the Pledge of Allegiance, she found herself the subject of animadversion." "Somehow, our most classic novels that warn against racism have become the objects of animadversion, even banned for their inclusion of violence and harsh language."
examples:
"Jaffa makes a strong case, but ... [tends] to engage in too many personal animadversions against his critics. Many readers will find these comments entertaining, but others will find them distracting."
— Mike Potemra, National Review, 4 July 1999
"This gentleman broke in on every remark [while] eating of every dish at table. His animadversions were uttered with the gravity of a German philosopher, and the science of a French cook."
— Hannah More, Coelebs In Search of a Wife, 1858
has this page helped you understand "animadversion"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "animadversion" without saying "censure" or "faultfinding."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "_____ is a series of (long, eloquent, insightful, or fuming) animadversions against _____."
Example: "Whitney Hedrick's YouTube channel is a series of insightful animadversions against consumerism and the traps laid by the beauty industry."
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
This month, we're playing Name Those Synonyms!
We're enjoying the gracefully written, ultra-authoritative explanations in Funk & Wagnalls Standard Handbook of Synonyms, Antonyms, and Prepositions. In each issue, check out the passage from the book, and see if you can figure out which synonyms are being distinguished.
From the previous issue: What two synonyms (<1> and <2>) does the Handbook distinguish below? (They are distinguished first from each other, then distinguished from "inclination.")
"<1> is an earnest longing or <2>ing for something. Its range is from the highest objects to the lowest; for an object near at hand, or near in thought, and viewed as attainable; a <2> may be for what is remote or uncertain, or even for what is recognized as impossible. Inclination is the mildest of these terms; it is a quiet, or even a vague or unconscious, tendency. Even when we speak of a strong or decided inclination we do not express the intensity of <1>."
Answers:
<1> is "desire."
<2> is "wish."
Try this today: What two synonyms (<1> and <2>) does the Handbook distinguish below? (They are distinguished from each other and from "fair.")
"A <1> statement is meant to be true to the real facts and just to all parties; a fair statement is really so. Fair is applied to conduct; <1> is not; as, fair treatment, 'a fair field, and no favor.' One who is <2> has a fearless and unconstrained truthfulness. As truth is not always agreeable or timely, <1> and <2> have often an objectionable sense; 'to be <1> with you,' 'to be perfectly <2>,' are regarded as sure preludes to something disagreeable, stated without reservation."
Bonus challenge: Recall the fine differences between "reverie" and "daydream." You can view the answer in this issue.
review this word:
1. The opposite of ANIMADVERSION is
A. JOY.
B. PRAISE.
C. COMMUNION.
2. There's no such thing as _____; animadversions _____.
A. bad publicity .. count as buzz
B. a dumb question .. invite discussion
C. a bad child .. need and deserve love
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Grumpy Cat. She was animosity in animal form.
I get a little grumpy when I think of how the lovely Latin animus ("the mind"), the one that gave us such beautiful words--animal, animate--also gave us ugly ones, like animosity ("hatred, hostility"), animus itself ("active hatred, active hostility"), and the monstrosity we're checking out today: animadversion ("hostile criticism"). This long, ugly, crazy-sounding word has Latin roots that mean "turning the mind toward." Apparently when you turn your mind toward something, it's often to criticize it: to say why it's bad.
"Jaffa makes a strong case, but ... [tends] to engage in too many personal animadversions against his critics. Many readers will find these comments entertaining, but others will find them distracting."
Explain the meaning of "animadversion" without saying "censure" or "faultfinding."
Fill in the blanks: "_____ is a series of (long, eloquent, insightful, or fuming) animadversions against _____."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. The opposite of ANIMADVERSION is
|