Etymology Map
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Critic

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a person who judges or reviews

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

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

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.