| 释义 |
criticism|ˈkrɪtɪsɪz(ə)m|
[f. critic or L. critic-us + -ism: prob. formed in conjunction with criticize, of which it is the n. of action. Adopted in French in 19th c. as criticisme (in sense 2 c below).]
1. The action of criticizing, or passing judgement upon the qualities or merits of anything; esp. the passing of unfavourable judgement; fault-finding, censure.
1607Dekker Knt.'s Conjur. To Rdr., Therfore (reader) doe I..stand at the marke of criticisme (and of thy bolt) to bee shot at. 1637Heywood Royal Ship 42 They would not allow it..But..it was rather their Criticisme than my ignorance. 1683D. A. Art Converse 45 Criticism or a censorious humour, condemning indifferently every thing. 1736Butler Anal. ii. vii. 361 This..gives the largest scope for criticism. 1863Geo. Eliot Romola iii. x, These acts..were not allowed to pass without criticism. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 44 No philosophy has ever stood this criticism of the next generation.
2. The art of estimating the qualities and character of literary or artistic work; the function or work of a critic.
1674Dryden Pref. State of Innocence Wks. 1821 V. 106 Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is, to observe those excellencies which should delight a reasonable reader. 1709Pope Ess. on Crit. 101 Then criticism the muse's handmaid proved. 1719J. Richardson (title), The Connoisseur: an Essay on the whole Art of Criticism as it relates to Painting. 1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit. i. 38, I am bound by my own definition of criticism: a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world. 1878Dowden Stud. Lit. 413 The effort of criticism in our time has been..to see things as they are, without partiality, without obtrusion of personal liking or disliking.
b. spec. The critical science which deals with the text, character, composition, and origin of literary documents, esp. those of the Old and New Testaments.
textual criticism: that whose object is to ascertain the genuine text and meaning of an author. higher criticism: see quot. 1881.
1669Gale Crt. Gentiles i. i. x. 51 The Knowledge of Languages, anciently stiled Grammar, and lately Criticisme. 1748Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 356 Criticism..may be defined the Art of restoring the corrupted Passages of Authors, and ascertaining their genuine Sense. 1836R. Keith tr. Hengstenberg's Christol. I. 414 A fundamental principle of the higher criticism. 1864Froude Short Stud. (1891) I. 241 (title), Criticism and the gospel history. 1875Scrivener Lect. Grk. Test. 7 The problem which Textual criticism sets itself to solve. 1881Robertson Smith Old Test. in Jewish Ch. (1892) 90 A series of questions affecting the composition, the editing, and the collection of the sacred books. This class of questions forms the special subject of the branch of critical science which is usually distinguished from the verbal criticism of the text by the name of Higher or Historical Criticism.
c. Philos. The critical philosophy of Kant.
So called from its being based on a critical examination of the faculty of knowledge.
1867J. H. Stirling tr. Schwegler's Hist. Philos. (ed. 8) 216 Kant..possessed the clearest consciousness of the relation of criticism to all preceding philosophy. 1889Caird Kant I. 2 [Kant] opposes Criticism to two other forms of philosophy, Dogmatism and Scepticism.
3. (with pl.) An act of criticizing; a critical remark, comment; a critical essay, critique.
1608Chapman Byron's Conspir. i. i, There are a number more Of these State Criticismes: That our personall view May profitably make. 1683Dryden Life Plutarch 14 Philosophical questions and criticisms of humanity were their usual recreations. 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. Pref., Some..have..got their criticisms ready for the press. 1872E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. v. 75 Very much disposed to make free criticisms. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 22 A criticism may be worth making which rests only on probabilities or impressions.
†4. A nice point or distinction, a minute particular, a nicety; a subtlety; in bad sense, a quibble.
a1616Beaum. & Fl. Lit. Fr. Lawyer i. i, This godly calling [of Duellist] Thou hast follow'd five-and-twenty yeares, and studied The criticismes of contentions [i.e. duelling]. 1658Sir T. Browne Gard. Cyrus iii. 50 To set Seeds in that posture, wherein the Leaf and Roots may shoot right..were a Criticisme in Agriculture. 1663J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 82 For the omission of some petty criticisms in their Rites. 1683Cave Ecclesiastici, Athanasius vi. §12. 108 Not sufficiently understanding the Criticisms of the Greek Language. |