Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRIT'IC, n. [Gr. κριτικος, from κριτης, a judge or discerner, from the root of κρινω, to judge, to separate, to distinguish. See Crime.]

1. A person skilled in judging of the merit of literary works; one who is able to discern and distinguish the beauties and faults of writing. In a more general sense, a person skills in judging with propriety of any combination of objects, or of any work of art; and particularly of what are denominated the Fine Arts. A critic is one who, from experience, knowledge, habit or taste, can perceive the difference between propriety mid impropriety, in objects or works presented to his view; between the natural and unnatural; the high and the low, or lofty and mean; the congruous and incongruous; the correct and incorrect, according to the established rules of the art.
2. An examiner; a judge. And make each day a critic on the last. – Pope.
3. One who judges with severity; one who censures or finds fault. – Pope. Watts. Swift.