What does "critic" mean?
Critic: One who passes a rigorous or captious judgment; one who censures or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper. When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and truth, let not little critics exalt themselves, and shower down their ill nature. I. Watts. You know who the critics are the men who have failed in literature and art. Beaconsfield.
Additional senses
- 2.The art of criticism. [Obs.] Locke.
- 3.An act of criticism; a critique. [Obs.] And make each day a critic on the last. Pope.
- 4.Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [Obs.] "Critic learning." Pope.
- 5.To criticise; to play the critic. [Obs.] Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have done. A. Brewer.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-critic-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00