criticus

Criticus is a Latin term that functions as both a noun meaning “critic” or “judge” and an adjective meaning “critical” or “judging.” It derives from the Greek kritikos, meaning able to discern or judge, and entered Latin through the classical and scholarly vocabularies. The English word critic shares the same linguistic lineage.

In Latin literature and scholarship, criticus designated a person who critiques or evaluates works, arguments, or performances. It could refer to a reviewer of literary or philosophical texts, a commentator who weighs textual questions, or a person skilled in critical analysis. In medieval and early modern Latin, the term appears in scholastic and rhetorical contexts to describe roles centered on evaluation and judgment. The usage is typically practical and descriptive rather than ideological, reflecting the broader Latin habit of naming professions or faculties with instrumental terms.

In modern scholarly practice, criticus occurs mainly within Latin-language sources and discussions of Latin terminology. In English-language writing about classical or medieval topics, the vocabulary is usually rendered as critic or editor, while criticus may appear in discussions of Latin etymology, glossaries, or the naming of Latin editions and commentaries. The concept behind criticus—assessment, discernment, and critical examination—continues to inform discussions of art, literature, philosophy, and science, though the Latin form is now mostly of historical or philological interest.

See also: critic, criticism, critique, critique of reason.