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Webster 1913 Edition


Criterion

Cri-te′ri-on

(kr?-t?′r?-?n)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Criteria
(-[GREEK]), sometimes
Criterions
(-[GREEK]nz)
.
[Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] a means for judging, fr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] decider, judge, fr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] 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.
Of the diseases of the mind there is no
criterion
.
Donne.
Syn. – Standard; measure; rule.

Webster 1828 Edition


Criterion

CRITERION

,
Noun.
plu.
[Gr., to judge. See Crime.] A standard of judging; any established law, rule, principle or fact, by which facts, propositions and opinions are compared, in order to discover their truth or falsehood, or by which a correct judgment may be formed.

Definition 2024


criterion

criterion

English

Alternative forms

Noun

criterion (plural criteria)

  1. A standard or test by which individual things or people may be compared and judged.
    Criterion of choice, of decision, of selection
    • 2013 November 30, Paul Davis, “Letters: Say it as simply as possible”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8864:
      Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?

Usage notes

  • The plural form criterions also exists, but is much less common.
  • The form criteria is sometimes used as a nonstandard singular form (as in a criteria, this criteria, and so on), with corresponding plural form criterias. In this use, it sometimes means “a single criterion”, sometimes “a set of criteria”.

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • criterion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • criterion in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams


Latin

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /kriˈte.ri.on/, [krɪˈtɛ.ri.õ]

Noun

criterion n (genitive criteriī); second declension

  1. criterion

Inflection

Second declension, Greek type.

Case Singular Plural
nominative criterion criteria
genitive criteriī criteriōrum
dative criteriō criteriīs
accusative criterion criteria
ablative criteriō criteriīs
vocative criterion criteria

Descendants