Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRI-TE'RI-ON, n. [plur. Criteria. Gr. κριτηριον, from the root of κρινω, to judge. See Crime.]

A standard of judging; any established law, rule, principle or fact, by which facts, propositions and opinions are compared, in order to discover their truth or falsehood, or by which a correct judgment may be formed.