Part 665

||Cris"sum (kr?s"s?m),, n.; pl. Crissa (-s&?;). [NL.; cf. L. crisso to move the haunches.] (Zo÷l.) That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal opening; the under tail coverts.

Cris"tate (kr?s"t?t), a. [L. ctistatus, fr. crista crest.] (Bot. & Zo÷l.) Crested.

Cri*te"ri*on (kr?-t?"r?-?n), n.; pl. Criteria (-&?;), sometimes Criterions (-&?;nz). [Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; a means for judging, fr. &?;&?;&?;&?; decider, judge, fr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?; 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.

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

Syn. -- Standard; measure; rule.

Crith (kr&ibreve;th), n. [Gr. kriqh` a barleycorn, a small weight.] (Chem.) The unit for estimating the weight of aŰriform 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.

Crith"o*man`cy (kr&ibreve;th"&osl;*măn`s&ybreve;), 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.

Crit"ic (kr&ibreve;t"&ibreve;k), 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.

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.

Crit"ic*al (kr&ibreve;t"&ibreve;*kal), a. [See Critic, n., Crisis.]

1. Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions.

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

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

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

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.

4. Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.

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

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