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Webster 1913 Edition


Criticism

Crit′i-cism

(kr?t′?-s?z’m)
,
Noun.
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
.
The elements of
criticism
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.
By
criticism
, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well.
Dryden.
2.
The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Criticism

CRITICISM

,
Noun.
1.
The art of judging with propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of any production in the fine arts; as the rules of criticism.
2.
The act of judging on the merit of a performance; animadversion; remark on beauties and faults; critical observation, verbal or written. We say, the authors criticisms are candid, or they are severe.

Definition 2024


criticism

criticism

English

Noun

criticism (countable and uncountable, plural criticisms)

  1. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.
    The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue.
    • 1874, Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd, Barnes & Noble Classics (2005 publication of 1912 Wessex edition), page 276:
      Her attitude was that of a person who listens, either to the external world of sound, or to the discourse of thought. A close criticism might have detected signs proving that she was intent on the latter alternative.

Derived terms

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Translations

References

  • criticism” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
  • criticism in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913