Definitions for: Critic


[n] someone who frequently finds fault or makes harsh and unfair judgments
[n] anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something
[n] a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art



Webster (1913) Definition: Crit"ic (kr?t"?k), n. [L. criticus, Gr. ????, a critic;
prop., an adj. meaning able to discuss, from ???? 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.

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.

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

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.

You know who the critics are? the men who have
failed in literature and art. --Beaconsfield.

3. The art of criticism. [Obs.] --Locke.

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

And make each day a critic on the last. --Pope.


Crit"ic, a.
Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [Obs.]
``Critic learning.'' --Pope.


Crit"ic, v. i. [Cf. F. critiquer.]
To criticise; to play the critic. [Obs.]

Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have
done. --A. Brewer.

See Also: Allen Tate, appraiser, art critic, authenticator, carper, disagreeable person, drama critic, evaluator, grader, Granville-Barker, Harley Granville-Barker, John Orley Allen Tate, judge, literary critic, music critic, newspaper critic, niggler, nitpicker, panelist, panellist, professional, professional person, reader, referee, reviewer, roaster, sampler, taster, tastetester, Tate, theater critic, unpleasant person

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