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animadverto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word animadverto

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (animus,vertō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [a.nɪ.madˈwɛr.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [a.ni.madˈvɛr.to][1]

Forms

animadvertō (present infinitive animadvertere, perfect active animadvertī, supine animadversum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from animus “mind” and advertō “to turn towards”, and the phrase ⟨animum advertō⟩ is used as well.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of paying attention and of punishing.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to direct the mind to, pay attention, heed, as in Plautus, and in Cicero to notice, observe, to acknowledge, to find fault with, and to remark upon.[2] In Varro it meant to judge, appraise, and in Plautus to punish, as animadvertere in aliquem “to proceed against someone”, also of capital punishment.[2] Döderlein explains that animadvertere is to notice with the mind, notāre to mark something so that it can be told apart.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to take notice, observe, regard, consider, discern.[5] Its noun animadversiō gave English animadversion “criticism” in the 1590s.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of attention and punishment.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of noticing and criticizing.[2][3]
  • 1590s – English animadversion is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To pay attention, heed.[2]
  2. To notice, observe.[2]
  3. To criticize.[2]
  4. To remark upon.[2]
  5. To judge.[2]
  6. To punish.[2]

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from notō.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Animadverto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/animadverto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·