Crit'ic1, n.
n. [Lat. criticus, Gr. κριτικός, Fr. critique, m. See infra.] 1. One skilled in judging of the merits of literary works or productions of art, especially in the fine arts; a connoisseur; an expert; hence, one who passes judgment upon or criticises literary or artistic works, manners, morals, and the like. The opinion of the most skillful critics was, that nothing finer [than Goldsmith’s “Traveller”] had appeared in verse since the fourth book of the Dunciad. Macaulay. 2. One who passes a rigorous or severe judgment; one who censures or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper. You with pleasure own your follies past, And make each day a critic on the last. Pope. When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and truth, let not little critics exalt themselves, and shower down their ill nature. Watts. 3. The art of criticism; a critique. See CRITIQUE. If ideas and words were distinctly weighed, and duly considered, they would afford us another sort of logic and critic than what we have been hitherto acquainted with. Locke.