Crispness Crisp"ness noun The state or quality of being crisp.
Crispy Crisp"y adjective 1. Formed into short, close ringlets; frizzed; crisp; as, crispy locks. 2. Crisp; brittle; as, a crispy pie crust.
Crissal Cris"sal adjective (Zoology) 1. Pertaining to the crissum; as, crissal feathers. 2. Having highly colored under tail coverts; as, the crissal thrasher.
Crisscross Criss"cross` noun [ A corruption of
Christcross .]
1. A mark or cross, as the signature of a person who is unable to write. 2. A child's game played on paper or on a slate, consisting of lines arranged in the form of a cross.
Crisscross Criss"cross` transitive verb To mark or cover with cross lines; as, a paper was crisscrossed with red marks.
Crisscross Criss"cross` adverb 1. In opposite directions; in a way to cross something else; crossing one another at various angles and in various ways. Logs and tree luing crisscross in utter confusion.
W. E. Boardman.
2. With opposition or hindrance; at cross purposes; contrarily; as, things go crisscross .
Crisscross-row Criss"cross-row` noun See Christcross-row .
Crissum Cris"sum (kr?s"s?m),,
noun ;
plural Crissa (-s...). [ New Latin ; confer Latin
crisso to move the haunches.]
(Zoology) That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal opening; the under tail coverts.
Cristate Cris"tate adjective [ Latin
ctistatus , from
crista crest.]
(Bot. & Zoology) Crested.
Criterion Cri·te"ri·on noun ;
plural Criteria (-...), sometimes
Criterions (-...nz). [ Greek ............... a means for judging, from ............ decider, judge, from ............... to separate. See
Certain .]
A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test, by which facts, principles opinions, and conduct are tried in forming a correct judgment respecting them. Of the diseases of the mind there is no criterion .
Donne.
Inferences founded on such enduring criteria .
Sir G. C. Lewis.
Syn. -- Standard; measure; rule.
Crith Crith (krĭth)
noun [ Greek
kriqh` a barleycorn, a small weight.]
(Chemistry) The unit for estimating the weight of aëriform substances; -- the weight of a liter of hydrogen at 0° centigrade, and with a tension of 76 centimeters of mercury. It is 0.0896 of a gram, or 1.38274 grains.
Crithomancy Crith"o·man`cy (krĭth"o*măn`sȳ)
noun [ Greek
kriqai` , plural, barley +
-mancy : confer French
crithomancie .]
A kind of divination by means of the dough of the cakes offered in the ancient sacrifices, and the meal strewed over the victims.
Critic Crit"ic (krĭt"ĭk)
noun [ Latin
criticus , Greek
kritiko`s , a critic; prop., an adj. meaning
able to discuss , from
kri`nein to judge, discern. See
Certain , and confer
Critique .]
1. One skilled in judging of the merits of literary or artistic works; a connoisseur; an adept; hence, one who examines literary or artistic works, etc., and passes judgment upon them; a reviewer. The opininon of the most skillful critics was, that nothing finer [ than Goldsmith's "Traveler"] had appeared in verse since the fourth book of the "Dunciad."
Macaulay.
2. 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.
3. The art of criticism. [ Obsolete]
Locke. 4. An act of criticism; a critique. [ Obsolete]
And make each day a critic on the last.
Pope.
Critic Crit"ic adjective Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [ Obsolete] "
Critic learning."
Pope.
Critic Crit"ic intransitive verb [ Confer French
critiquer .]
To criticise; to play the critic. [ Obsolete]
Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have done.
A. Brewer.
Critical Crit"ic·al (krĭt"ĭ*k
a l)
adjective [ See
Critic ,
noun ,
Crisis .]
1. Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions. It is submitted to the judgment of more critical ears to direct and determine what is graceful and what is not.
Holder.
2. Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation. 3. Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious. Virgil was so critical in the rites of religion, that he would never have brought in such prayers as these, if they had not been agreeable to the Roman customs.
Bp. Stillingfleet.
4. Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting. O gentle lady, do not put me to 't,
For I am nothing, if not critical .
Shak.
5. Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject. 6. [ See
Crisis .]
Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation. Our circumstances are indeed critical .
Burke.
The small moment, the exact point, the critical minute, on which every good work so much depends.
South.
Critical angle (Optics) ,
that angle of incidence of a luminous ray at which it is wholly reflected, and no portion of it transmitted. The sine of this angle is the reciprocal of the refractive index of the medium. --
Critical philosophy ,
the metaphysical system of Kant; -- so called from his most important work, the "Critique of Pure Reason." --
Critical point (Physics) ,
a certain temperature, different for different gases, but always the same for each gas, regarded as the limit above which no amount of pressure can produce condensation to a liquid.
Critically Crit"ic·al·ly adverb 1. In a critical manner; with nice discernment; accurately; exactly. Critically to discern good writers from bad.
Dryden.
2. At a crisis; at a critical time; in a situation, place, or condition of decisive consequence; as, a fortification critically situated. Coming critically the night before the session.
Bp. Burnet.
Criticalness Crit"ic·al·ness noun 1. The state or quality of being critical, or of occurring at a critical time. 2. Accuracy in examination or decision; exactness.
Criticaster Crit"ic·as`ter (krĭt"ĭk*ăs`t&til;r)
noun A contemptible or vicious critic. The rancorous and reptile crew of poeticules, who decompose into criticasters .
Swinburne.
Criticisable Crit"i·cis`a·ble (krĭt"ĭ*sīz`ȧ*b'l)
adjective Capable of being criticised.
Criticise Crit"i·cise transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Criticised (-s?zd);
present participle & verbal noun Criticising .] [ Written also, more analogically, but less commonly,
criticize .] [ Confer G.
kritisiren . See
Critic .]
1. To examine and judge as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment upon; as, to criticise an author; to criticise a picture. 2. To express one's views as to the merit or demerit of; esp., to animadvert upon; to find fault with; as, to criticise conduct. Blackwood's Mag.
Criticise Crit"i·cise intransitive verb 1. To act as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment; to play the critic; -- formerly used with on or upon . Several of these ladies, indeed, criticised upon the form of the association.
Addison.
2. To discuss the merits or demerits of a thing or person; esp., to find fault. Cavil you may, but never criticise .
Pope.
Criticiser Crit"i·ci`ser noun One who criticises; a critic.
Criticism Crit"i·cism noun 1. The rules and principles which regulate the practice of the critic; the art of judging with knowledge and propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of a production in the fine arts; as, dramatic criticism . The elements of criticism depend on the two principles of Beauty and Truth, one of which is the final end or object of study in every one of its pursuits: Beauty, in letters and the arts; Truth, in history and sciences.
Brande & C.
By criticism , as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well.
Dryden.
2. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure. About the plan of "Rasselas" little was said by the critics; and yet the faults of the plan might seem to invite severe criticism .
Macaulay.
Critique Cri·tique" (krĭ*tēk")
noun [ French
critique , f., from Greek
kritikh` (sc.
te`chnh ) the critical art, from
kritiko`s . See
Critic .]
1. The art of criticism. [ Written also
critic .] [ R.]
2. A critical examination or estimate of a work of literature or art; a critical dissertation or essay; a careful and thorough analysis of any subject; a criticism; as, Kant's " Critique of Pure Reason." I should as soon expect to see a critique on the poesy of a ring as on the inscription of a medal.
Addison.
3. A critic; one who criticises. [ Obsolete]
A question among critiques in the ages to come.
Bp. Lincoln.
Critique Cri·tique" transitive verb [ Confer
Critic ,
v. ]
To criticise or pass judgment upon. [ Obsolete]
Pope.
Crizzel Criz"zel noun [ Confer
grizzle darkish gray, or German
griselig gravelly, granular, speckled.]
A kind of roughness on the surface of glass, which clouds its transparency. [ Written also
crizzeling and
crizzle .]
Croak Croak (krōk)
intransitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Croaked . (krōkt);
present participle & verbal noun Croaking .] [ From the primitive of Anglo-Saxon
cracettan to croak as a raven; akin to G.
krächzen to croak, and to English
creak ,
crake .]
1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat, as a frog, a raven, or a crow; hence, to make any hoarse, dismal sound. Loud thunder to its bottom shook the bog,
And the hoarse nation croaked .
Pope.
2. To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil; to utter complaints or forebodings habitually. Marat . . . croaks with reasonableness.
Carlyle.
Croak Croak transitive verb To utter in a low, hoarse voice; to announce by croaking; to forebode; as, to croak disaster. The raven himself is hoarse,
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan.
Shak.
Two ravens now began to croak
Their nuptial song.
Wordsworth.
Croak Croak noun The coarse, harsh sound uttered by a frog or a raven, or a like sound.
Croaker Croak"er noun 1. One who croaks, murmurs, grumbles, or complains unreasonably; one who habitually forebodes evil. 2. (Zoology) (a) A small American fish ( Micropogon undulatus ), of the Atlantic coast. (a) An American fresh- water fish ( Aplodinotus grunniens ); -- called also drum . (c) The surf fish of California. » When caught these fishes make a croaking sound; whence the name, which is often corrupted into
crocus .
Cro"at (kr?"?t)
noun [ Confer
Cravat .]
1. A native of Croatia, in Austria; esp., one of the native Slavic race. 2. An irregular soldier, generally from Croatia.
Croatian Cro·a"tian adjective Of or pertaining to Croatia. --
noun A Croat.
Crocein Cro"ce·in noun [ See
Croceous .]
(Chemistry) A name given to any one of several yellow or scarlet dyestuffs of artificial production and complex structure. In general they are diazo and sulphonic acid derivatives of benzene and naphthol.
Croceous Cro"ceous adjective [ Latin
croceus , from
crocus saffron. See
Crocus .]
Of, pertaining to, or like, saffron; deep reddish yellow. [ R.]
Crocetin Cro"ce·tin noun (Chemistry) A dyestuff, obtained from the Chinese crocin, which produces a brilliant yellow.
Croche Croche (krōch)
noun [ Old French
croche , equiv. to French
crochet ,
croc , hook. See
Crotchet ,
Crook .]
A little bud or knob at the top of a deer's antler.
Crochet Cro·chet" noun [ French
crochet small hook. See
Croche .]
A kind of knitting done by means of a hooked needle, with worsted, silk, or cotton; crochet work. Commonly used adjectively. Crochet hook ,
Crochet needle ,
a small hook, or a hooked needle (often of bone), used in crochet work.
Crochet Cro·chet" transitive verb & i. [
imperfect & past participle Crocheted (shād");
present participle & verbal noun Crocheting (-shā"ĭng).]
To knit with a crochet needle or hook; as, to crochet a shawl.
Crociary Cro"ci·a·ry noun [ See
Crosier .]
(Eccl.) One who carries the cross before an archbishop. [ Obsolete]
Crocidolite Cro·cid"o·lite noun [ Greek
kroky`s nap on cloth +
-lite .]
(Min.) A mineral occuring in silky fibers of a lavender blue color. It is related to hornblende and is essentially a silicate of iron and soda; -- called also blue asbestus . A silicified form, in which the fibers penetrating quartz are changed to oxide of iron, is the yellow brown tiger-eye of the jewelers.
Crocin Cro"cin noun [ Greek ............ saffron.]
(Chemistry) (a) The coloring matter of Chinese yellow pods, the fruit of Gardenia grandiflora . Watts. (b) A red powder (called also polychroite ), which is made from the saffron ( Crocus sativus ). See Polychroite .
Crock Crock (krŏk)
noun [ Confer W.
croeg cover, Scot.
crochit covered.]
The loose black particles collected from combustion, as on pots and kettles, or in a chimney; soot; smut; also, coloring matter which rubs off from cloth.
Crock Crock transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Crocked (krŏkt);
present participle & verbal noun Crocking .]
To soil by contact, as with soot, or with the coloring matter of badly dyed cloth.
Crock Crock intransitive verb To give off crock or smut.
Crock Crock noun A low stool. "I . . . seated her upon a little
crock ."
Tatler.
Crock Crock noun [ Anglo-Saxon
croc ,
croca ,
crog ,
croh ; akin to Dutch
kruik , German
krug , Icelandic
krukka , Danish
krukke , Swedish
kruka ; but confer W.
crwc bucket, pail,
crochan pot,
cregen earthen vessel, jar. Confer
Cruet .]
Any piece of crockery, especially of coarse earthenware; an earthen pot or pitcher. Like foolish flies about an honey crock .
Spenser.
Crock Crock transitive verb To lay up in a crock; as, to crock butter. Halliwell.
Crocker Crock"er noun A potter. [ Obsolete]
Wyclif.
Crockery Crock"er·y noun [ From
Crock an earthen vessel.]
Earthenware; vessels formed of baked clay, especially the coarser kinds.
Crocket Crock"et noun [ Old French
croquet , F.
crochet , dim. of
croc hook. See
Crook , and confer
Crotchet .]
1. (Architecture) An ornament often resembling curved and bent foliage, projecting from the sloping edge of a gable, spire, etc. 2. A croche, or knob, on the top of a stag's antler. The antlers and the crockets .
W. Black.
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