critic

Where does the word "critic" come from? It comes from Greek kritikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1580s).

Critic’s story begins in Greek: kritikos meant “able to judge.” Greek, from 'krinein', to separate or decide. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as criticus. A judge of literature. It reached English by 1580s as critic. Literary critics became a profession in the 1700s. Today, critic means a person who judges or reviews.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kritikos "able to judge", Greek, from 'krinein', to separate or decide.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient criticus "critic", a judge of literature.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s critic "judge", literary critics became a profession in the 1700s.