'animadversive' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'animadvertere' and its past participle 'animadversus,' where 'animum' meant 'mind' and 'advertere' meant 'to turn toward'; the English adjective uses the suffix '-ive' (< Latin '-ivus') meaning 'having the nature of'.

'animadvertere' yielded Late Latin 'animadversio' ('censure; notice'), which entered English as 'animadversion' ('censure'); from this noun, the derivative adjective 'animadversive' developed in Early Modern English.

Initially, it related to 'noticing' or 'turning the mind to something,' but in English it narrowed to the sense of 'critical; censorious'.