‖n. pl. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; indiscernible; 'a priv. + &unr_; to distinguish. ] (Zool.) The lowest groups of animals, in which no nervous system has been observed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Acrita. -- n. An individual of the Acrita. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Acritan. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_; critical. ] (Med.) Having no crisis; giving no indications of a crisis; as, acritical symptoms, an acritical abscess. [ R. ] AS [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; undistinguishable; 'a priv. + &unr_; to separate, distinguish + &unr_; color. ] Color blindness; achromatopsy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acritudo, from acer sharp. ] Acridity; pungency joined with heat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. acritas, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. âcreté. ] Sharpness; keenness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alacritas, fr. alacer lively, eager, prob. akin to Gr. &unr_; to drive, Goth. aljan zeal. ] A cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptitude; joyous activity; briskness; sprightliness; as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to meet the enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have not that alacrity of spirit,
Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Criteria (-&unr_;), sometimes Criterions [ Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a means for judging, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; decider, judge, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to separate. See Certain. ] A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test, by which facts, principles opinions, and conduct are tried in forming a correct judgment respecting them. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of the diseases of the mind there is no criterion. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inferences founded on such enduring criteria. Sir G. C. Lewis.

Syn. -- Standard; measure; rule. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Serving as a basis for evaluation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. kriqh` a barleycorn, a small weight. ] (Chem.) The unit for estimating the weight of aëriform substances; -- the weight of a liter of hydrogen at 0° centigrade, and with a tension of 76 centimeters of mercury. It is 0.0896 of a gram, or 1.38274 grains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. kriqai`, pl., barley + -mancy: cf. F. crithomancie. ] A kind of divination by means of the dough of the cakes offered in the ancient sacrifices, and the meal strewed over the victims. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. criticus, Gr. kritiko`s, a critic; prop., an adj. meaning able to discuss, from kri`nein to judge, discern. See Certain, and cf. Critique. ] 1. One skilled in judging of the merits of literary or artistic works; a connoisseur; an adept; hence, one who examines literary or artistic works, etc., and passes judgment upon them; a reviewer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The opininon of the most skillful critics was, that nothing finer [ than Goldsmith's “Traveler” ] had appeared in verse since the fourth book of the “Dunciad.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who passes a rigorous or captious judgment; one who censures or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper. [ 1913 Webster ]

When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and truth, let not little critics exalt themselves, and shower down their ill nature. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know who the critics are? the men who have failed in literature and art. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The art of criticism. [ Obs. ] Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An act of criticism; a critique. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And make each day a critic on the last. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [ Obs. ] “Critic learning.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. F. critiquer. ] To criticise; to play the critic. [ Obs. ]
Syn. -- critique. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have done. A. Brewer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Critic, n., Crisis. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is submitted to the judgment of more critical ears to direct and determine what is graceful and what is not. Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virgil was so critical in the rites of religion, that he would never have brought in such prayers as these, if they had not been agreeable to the Roman customs. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting. [ 1913 Webster ]

O gentle lady, do not put me to 't,
For I am nothing, if not critical. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. [ See Crisis. ] Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our circumstances are indeed critical. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The small moment, the exact point, the critical minute, on which every good work so much depends. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Critical angle (Optics), that angle of incidence of a luminous ray at which it is wholly reflected, and no portion of it transmitted. The sine of this angle is the reciprocal of the refractive index of the medium. --
Critical philosophy, the metaphysical system of Kant; -- so called from his most important work, the “Critique of Pure Reason.” [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a critical manner; with nice discernment; accurately; exactly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Critically to discern good writers from bad. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. At a crisis; at a critical time; in a situation, place, or condition of decisive consequence; as, a fortification critically situated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coming critically the night before the session. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state or quality of being critical, or of occurring at a critical time. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Accuracy in examination or decision; exactness. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Physics), That combination of volume and pressure, at the critical temperature of the substance, at which the liquid and gaseous phases of a given quantity of a substance have identical values for their densities and other properties. [ PJC ]

(Physics), A certain temperature, different for different gases, but always the same for each gas, regarded as the temperature above which no amount of pressure can produce condensation to a liquid; the temperature above which a gas cannot be liquified. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A contemptible or vicious critic. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rancorous and reptile crew of poeticules, who decompose into criticasters. Swinburne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being criticised. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Criticised p. pr. & vb. n. Criticising. ] [ Written also, more analogically, but less commonly, criticize. ] [ Cf. G. kritisiren. See Critic. ] 1. To examine and judge as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment upon; as, to criticise an author; to criticise a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To express one's views as to the merit or demerit of; esp., to animadvert upon; to find fault with; as, to criticise conduct. Blackwood's Mag.
Syn. -- criticize, pick apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To act as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment; to play the critic; -- formerly used with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several of these ladies, indeed, criticised upon the form of the association. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To discuss the merits or demerits of a thing or person; esp., to find fault. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cavil you may, but never criticise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who criticises; a critic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The rules and principles which regulate the practice of the critic; the art of judging with knowledge and propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of a production in the fine arts; as, dramatic criticism. [ 1913 Webster ]

The elements ofcriticism depend on the two principles of Beauty and Truth, one of which is the final end or object of study in every one of its pursuits: Beauty, in letters and the arts; Truth, in history and sciences. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

By criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure. [ 1913 Webster ]

About the plan of “Rasselas” little was said by the critics; and yet the faults of the plan might seem to invite severe criticism. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. same as criticise; as, The paper criticized the new movie. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ Cf. Critic, v. ] To criticise or pass judgment upon. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. critique, f., fr. Gr. kritikh` (sc. te`chnh) the critical art, from kritiko`s. See Critic. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The art of criticism. [ Written also critic. ] [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A critical examination or estimate of a work of literature or art; a critical dissertation or essay; a careful and thorough analysis of any subject; a criticism; as, Kant's “Critique of Pure Reason.” [ 1913 Webster ]

I should as soon expect to see a critique on the poesy of a ring as on the inscription of a medal. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A critic; one who criticises. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A question among critiques in the ages to come. Bp. Lincoln. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ from creature. ] [ Also spelled crittur. ] 1. Any animal; as, lots of critters come out only at night. [ U. S., western dialect ] [ PJC ]

2. Specifically: A domestic animal or a non-predatory wild animal; -- contrasted with varmint, also dialectal. [ U. S., western dialect ] [ PJC ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to separate, distinguish; dia` through + &unr_; to separate. See Critic. ] That separates or distinguishes; -- applied to points or marks used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of the same letter, as, ā, ă, ä, ō, &obreve_;, etc. “Diacritical points.” Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and writer. A. J. Ellis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; secretive, fr. &unr_; to choose out. ] (Med.) A remedy which promotes discharges, as an emetic, or a cathartic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escritoire, F. écritoire, LL. scriptorium, fr. L. scriptorius belonging to writing, fr. sribere to write. See Script, and cf. Scrutoire. ] A piece of furniture used as a writing table, commonly with drawers, pigeonholes, and the like; a secretary or writing desk. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to an escritoire. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Criticism which includes the study of the contents, literary character, date, authorship, etc., of any writing; as, the higher criticism of the Pentateuch. Called also historical criticism.

The comparison of the Hebrew and Greek texts . . . introduces us to a series of questions affecting the composition, the editing, and the collection of the sacred books. This class of questions forms the special subject of the branch of critical science which is usually distinguished from the verbal criticism of the text by the name of higher, or historical, criticism. W. Robertson Smith. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Pref. hyper- + critic: cf. F. hypercritique. ] One who is critical beyond measure or reason; a carping critic; a captious censor. “Hypercritics in English poetry.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Hypercritical. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Over critical; unreasonably or unjustly critical; carping; captious. “Hypercritical readers.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Excessively nice or exact. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a hypercritical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To criticise with unjust severity; to criticise captiously. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excessive criticism, or unjust severity or rigor of criticism; zoilism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. hypocrita, Gr. &unr_; one who plays a part on the stage, a dissembler, feigner. See Hypocrisy. ] One who plays a part; especially, one who, for the purpose of winning approbation of favor, puts on a fair outside seeming; one who feigns to be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who simulates virtue or piety. [ 1913 Webster ]

The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. Shak.

Syn. -- Deceiver; pretender; cheat. See Dissembler. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Hypocritically. [ R. ] Sylvester. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Hypocritical. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. hypocritique. ] Of or pertaining to a hypocrite, or to hypocrisy; as, a hypocriticalperson; a hypocritical look; a hypocritical action. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hypocritical professions of friendship and of pacific intentions were not spared. Macaulay.

-- Hyp`o*crit"ic*al*ly adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ F. médiocrité, L. mediocritas. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality of being mediocre; a middle state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. “A mediocrity of success.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderation; temperance. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A mediocre person; -- used disparagingly. [ PJC ]

n. [ Micro- + crith. ] (Chem.) The weight of the half hydrogen molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, at one time taken as the standard in comparing the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs sixteen microcriths. This unit is no longer used, and has been replaced by the Dalton, which is of approximately the same value. See molecular weight and Crith. J. P. Cooke. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ Neo- + classicism. ] The form of Neo-Kantianism developed by French idealists, following C. Renouvier. It rejects the noumena of Kant, restricting knowledge to phenomena as constituted by a priori categories. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. oneirocritique. See Oneirocritic, a. ] An interpreter of dreams. Bp. Warburton. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; a dream + &unr_; critical, fr. &unr_; to discern. ] Of or pertaining to the interpretation of dreams. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]