Animadversion is a harsh, critical comment––or even a public censure. You don't hear it very often, but in Puritan times, dressing in bright colors and swearing would bring much animadversions down upon you.
Animadversion comes from the verb animadvert. In Middle English, animadvert meant simply to pay attention or "turn your mind to" something (animus means "mind," ad- "to," vertere "turn"). Anyone with parents can understand how a word that means "pay attention" can turn into a word that means "criticize."
