Part 2592

<h1>Crithomancu</h1> <Xpage=346>

<hw>Crith"o*man`cu</hw> <tt>(kr?th"?-m?n`s?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/. pl., barley + <ets>-mancy</ets>: cf. F. <ets>crithomancie</ets>.]</ety> <def>A kind of divination by means of the dough of the cakes offered in the ancient sacrifices, and the meal strewed over the victims.</def>

<h1>Critic</h1> <Xpage=346>

<hw>Crit"ic</hw> <tt>(kr?t"?k)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>criticus</ets>, Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/, a critic; prop., an adj. meaning <ets>able to discuss</ets>, from <?/<?/<?/<?/ to judge, discern. See <er>Certain</er>, and cf. <er>Critique</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>The opininon of the most skillful <b>critics</b> was, that nothing finer [than Goldsmith's "Traveler"] had appeared in verse since the fourth book of the "Dunciad." <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>One who passes a rigorous or captious judgment; one who censures or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper.</def>

<blockquote>When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and truth, let not little <b>critics</b> exalt themselves, and shower down their ill nature. <i>I. Watts.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>You know who the <b>critics</b> are? the men who have failed in literature and art. <i>Beaconsfield.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The art of criticism.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Locke.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>An act of criticism; a critique.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>And make each day a <b>critic</b> on the last. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Critic</h1> <Xpage=346>

<hw>Crit"ic</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> "<i>Critic</i> learning."

<i>Pope.</i>

<h1>Critic</h1> <Xpage=346>

<hw>Crit"ic</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>critiquer</ets>.]</ety> <def>To criticise; to play the critic.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Nay, if you begin to <b>critic</b> once, we shall never have done. <i>A. Brewer.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Critical</h1> <Xpage=346>

<hw>Crit"ic*al</hw> <tt>(kr?t"?-k<it>a</it>l)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Critic</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, <er>Crisis</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions.</def>

<blockquote>It is submitted to the judgment of more <b>critical</b> ears to direct and determine what is graceful and what is not. <i>Holder.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; <as>as, <ex>critical</ex> knowledge; a <ex>critical</ex> dissertation.</as></def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious.</def>

<blockquote>Virgil was so <b>critical</b> 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. <i>Bp. Stillingfleet.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting.</def>

<blockquote>O gentle lady, do not put me to 't, For I am nothing, if not <b>critical</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; <as>as, a <ex>critical</ex> analysis of a subject</as>.</def>