criticato

Criticato is the past participle of the Italian verb criticare, meaning to criticize. It can function as a verb participle in compound tenses (for example, ho criticato) and, when used with essere, to form the passive voice (for example, è stato criticato). It also serves as an adjective meaning “criticized” or “subject to criticism,” and agrees with the noun it modifies: criticato (masculine singular), criticata (feminine singular), criticati (masculine plural), criticate (feminine plural).

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from criticare, which ultimately traces to Latin criticus and Greek kritikos, through the general tradition of terms related to discernment and judgment. The noun critic, meaning a person who judges or evaluates, is related in form and meaning.

Usage and nuance: Criticato is common in journalism, public discourse, and everyday language. While it predominantly conveys negative evaluation, it can be neutral when describing a reasoned critique. It often appears in phrases such as “la proposta è stata criticata” or “il film è stato criticato dai critici.” The verb forms ocritically specify tense, while the participial form as an adjective describes the state of the subject after receiving criticism.

Translations and equivalents: In English, the primary translation is “criticized”; in other languages, approximations include Spanish criticado, French criticized, German kritisiert. The related nouns include critica (criticism) and critico (critic).

See also: criticare, critica, critico, critica letteraria.