critical English · revision 2867

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1547|origins=grc κρίνω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkrɪt.ɪ.kᵊl/, US /ˈkrɪt̬.ɪ.kᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[critic]] and the suffix [[-al]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) after [[la-lat|criticus]],^(NODE 1998) which comes through Latin from Greek kritikós “able to judge”.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Merriam-Webster dates it to 1547.^(MWU 2024) Etymonline's first sense is “censorious, inclined to find fault”, from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and the OED's first example of it is from 1590.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The New Oxford dictionary gives the first sense as relating to the crisis of a disease, in the mid-16th century.^(NODE 1998) In medicine and astrology “relating to the turning point of a disease” is from 1601;^(OED 1989) it led to “important for determining an outcome”, about 1600.^(Etymonline) “Involving judgement as to truth or merit” is from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) and “of the nature of a crisis, in extreme danger or doubt” from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Relating to criticism”, as of literature, is from 1741.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Critically'' meant “accurately” in the 1650s, and “in a critical situation” from 1815.^(Etymonline) In nuclear physics, ''critical mass'' is from 1940, and ''criticality'' in that sense from 1950.^(Etymonline) In Devon dialect ''critical'' meant “dangerous, risky”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1547 – first recorded.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1590 – fault-finding.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – relating to the crisis of a disease.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640s – involving judgement.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – dangerous, uncertain.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1741 – relating to criticism.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1940 – ''critical mass''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Inclined to judge severely and find fault.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Marked by careful and exact judgement: ''a critical reading''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of or relating to [[critic|alt=critics]] or [[criticism]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of the nature of a turning point; [[crucial]] or decisive.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of an illness, at a dangerous stage; [[seriously]] ill.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(physics)'' At the point where a [[chain reaction]] can sustain itself.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[critically]]

+ * [[criticalness]]

+ * [[criticality]]

+ * [[acritical]]

+ * [[anticritical]]

+ * [[hypercritical]]

+ * [[overcritical]]

+ * [[postcritical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[critic]]

+ * [[criticism]]

+ * [[crisis]]

+ * [[criterion]]

+ * [[hypocrite]]

+ * [[certain]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Critical'' is the most general of several adjectives for a tendency to find fault, beside ''captious'', ''censorious'', ''faultfinding'' and ''hypercritical''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}