Where does “criticism” come from?
Criticism derives from Middle French critique, from Latin criticus, from Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós), from Ancient Greek κρίνω (krínō, to judge or separate), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European krey-, meaning to sift or discriminate.
criticism (English): The act of criticising; a critical judgment...
Definitions
- The act of criticising; a critical judgment...
Ancestry of “criticism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | critic | A person who appraises the works of others; A... |
| 2 | Middle French | critique | — |
| 3 | Latin | criticus | critical, decisive; a critic |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | κριτικός | Able to judge, discerning, critical; critic,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κρίσις | decision, determination, judgment; trial,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | κρίνω | To separate, divide, part, distinguish between... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | kríňňō | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | krinyéti | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | krey- | to sift, separate, divide |