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
- plural of criterion; A single criterion
Ancestry of “criteria”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | criterion | criterion |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | κριτήριον | means of judging, criterion, test, standard;... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κριτής | umpire; judge |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κρίνω | To separate, divide, part, distinguish between... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | kríňňō | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | krinyéti | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | krey- | to sift, separate, divide |