criticize, v.
(ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz)
Also -ise.
[f. critic or L. critic-us + -ize.]
1. intr. To play the critic; to pass judgement upon something with respect to its merits or faults. (Often connoting unfavourable judgement.)
| 1649 Milton Eikon. xxiv. 491 To let goe his Criticizing about the sound of Prayers. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. Introd. (1708) 2 They, who can criticize so weakly, as to imagine I have done my worst. 1753 Mrs. Delany Let. Mrs. Dewes 7 Apr., Her character is pretty; though had I time I could criticise. a 1862 Buckle Civilis. III. v. 316 They who criticize are unable to discern the great principle which pervades the whole. |
† b. with on or upon; = sense 2. Obs.
| 1657 J. Sergeant Schism Dispach't 15 Who can most dexterously and artificially criticize upon words. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man i. ii. ¶61. 213 We criticize much upon the Beauty of Faces. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 244 To criticise on the use that is made of it. 1810 Southey in Life (1850) III. 277 It requires a knowledge of that art to criticise upon the structure of verse. |
2. trans. To discuss critically; to offer judgement upon with respect to merits or faults; to animadvert upon.
| 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 354 Concerning the word Tharsish, so much criticiz'd, it is Verbum ambiguum and admits a various sence. 1724 Bolingbroke in Swift's Lett. (1766) II. 39 The verses I sent you are very bad..you would do them too much honour, if you criticized them. 1855 Prescott Philip II, I. ii. v. 193 Men began boldly to criticize the rights of kings and the duties of subjects. 1880 MacCormac Antisept. Surg. 49, I will now pass on to criticise a paper recently published. |
b. To censure, find fault with.
| 1704 Swift T. Tub Concl., To criticise his gait, and ridicule his dress. 1779 Johnson Lett. Mrs. Thrale 11 Oct., The gout that was in my ankles when Queeney criticised my gait. 1884 tr. Lotze's Logic 131, I am not afraid that anyone will criticise this..on the ground that it has nothing to do with logic. |
Hence ˈcriticizing vbl. n. and ppl. a.; ˈcritiˌcizingly adv.
| 1649 [see criticize 1]. 1772 F. Burney Early Diary (1889) I. 161 So criticizing an eye. 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 115 They..eye her approvingly, and the bridesmaids criticisingly. |