Crī-tē'rī-on, n.

n.; pl. CRĪ-TĒ'RĪ-Ā, sometimes CRĪ-TĒ'RĪ-ONS. [Gr. κριτήριον, a means for judging, from κριτής, decider, judge, from κρίνειν, to separate, distinguish, decide, judge.] A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test, by which facts, principles, and conduct are tried in order to a correct judgment respecting them.

It is the very criterion of true manhood to feel those impressions of sorrow which it endeavors to resist. Melmoth.