Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRIT'I-CISM, n.

1. The art of judging with propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of any production in the fine arts; as, the rules of criticism.
2. The act of judging on the merit of a performance; animadversion; remark on beauties and faults; critical observation, verbal or written. We say, the author's criticisms are candid, or they are severe.