'animadversiveness' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'animadvertere,' where 'animus' meant 'mind' and 'advertere' meant 'to turn toward'; it entered English via Late Latin 'animadversio' (notice, censure) and the English formations 'animadversion' and 'animadversive' + the suffix '-ness'.

'animadvertere' in Latin gave Late Latin 'animadversio'; this yielded English 'animadvert' and 'animadversion' in Early Modern English, from which the adjective 'animadversive' formed; adding '-ness' in English produced the modern noun 'animadversiveness'.

Initially, the Latin root conveyed 'to turn one's mind to; notice,' which developed a sense of 'censure/critical remark' in English, and ultimately specialized into the modern idea of 'a censorious, fault-finding disposition.'