Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “criteria” come from?

Criteria descends from English criterion, from New Latin criterion, from Ancient Greek κριτήριον meaning "a means for judging," derived from κριτής "judge," from κρίνω "to separate or judge," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European krey-.

criteria (English): plural of criterion; A single criterion

Definitions

  1. plural of criterion; A single criterion

Ancestry of “criteria”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincriterioncriterion
2Ancient Greekκριτήριονmeans of judging, criterion, test, standard;...
3Ancient Greekκριτήςumpire; judge
4Ancient GreekκρίνωTo separate, divide, part, distinguish between...
5Proto-Hellenickríňňō—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankrinyéti—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankrey-to sift, separate, divide

Words derived from “criteria”

  • multicriteria
  • noncriteria
  • intercriteria
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krey- →