a. [f. L. critic-us (see CRITIC a.) + -AL.]
1. Given to judging; esp. given to adverse or unfavorable criticism; fault-finding, censorious.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 54. That is some Satire keene and criticall. Ibid. (1604), Oth., II. i. 120. I am nothing, if not Criticall.
1665–9. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. vi. (1675), 157. The more Witty and Critical sort of Auditors.
1683. D. A., Art Converse, 49. Those that are of a too critical humour approve of nothing.
1828. Southey, Brough Bells, Poems 1837, VI. 226. ‘What! art thou critical?’ quoth he; ‘Eschew that heart’s disease.’
1881. Russell, Haigs, Introd. 3. It was not in his nature to be either critical or indifferent.
† 2. Involving or exercising careful judgment or observation; nice, exact, accurate, precise, punctual. Now Obs. (or merged in other senses).
1650. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. Exact and critical trial should be made … whereby determination might be settled.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 186. He is not criticall and exact in Garbes and Fashions.
1692. Ray, Disc., II. v. (1732), 272. I can hear of nobody that was so critical in noticing the Time.
1716. Cibber, Love makes Man, V. iii. Well, Madam, you see I’m punctual … I’m always critical—to a Minute.
[1806. Herschel, in Phil. Trans., XCVI. 463. The air is beautifully clear, and proper for critical observations.
1832. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, II. 37. A critical dressing need not be required.]
3. Occupied with or skilful in criticism.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 69. The Millenaries, a sect of learned, and criticall Christians.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 165. Of which a critical writer remarks [etc.].
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 26. Molière is only critical by accident.
b. Belonging or relating to criticism.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, II. VIII. 237. Cæsar was conversant also with the most abstruse and critical parts of learning.
1768. W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints, 169. How far the works of Hogarth will bear a critical examination.
1843. Macaulay (title), Critical and Historical Essays.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. App. 585. He shows a good deal of critical acumen.
4. Med. (and Astrol.) Relating to the crisis or turning-point of a disease; determining the issue of a disease, etc.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XVII. ii. I. 500. The foure decretorie or criticall daies, that give the dome of olive trees, either to good or bad.
1602. W. Vaughan, Nat. Direct., 47. The Moone … passeth almost euery seuenth day into the contrary signe of the same quality … and … bringeth the criticall daies.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., III. 72. You may reckon it [the Head-ach] critical, if in a Fever it fall upon a critical day.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, II. viii. § 7. And so the Fever terminates in a critical Abscess.
1843. Sir T. Watson, Lect. Physic., iv. (1857), I. 53. The moment of exhalation is very transient…. It is evidently critical, for the congestion is relieved.
5. Of the nature of, or constituting, a crisis: a. Of decisive importance in relation to the issue.
1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, iv. 65. Mercies are never … so seasonable as in the very turning and criticall point.
1673. S. C., Art of Complaisance, iv. 25. There is in the Court, as there is said to be in Love, one Critical minute.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writings (1859), II. v. 5. That month, by producing new prospects, has been critical.
1833. Alison, Hist. Europe, II. vii. § 100. Three hundred horse, at that critical moment, might have saved the monarchy.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, i. 145–6, note. Socrates taught that on great and critical occasions he was often directed by a mysterious voice.
b. Involving suspense or grave fear as to the issue; attended with uncertainty or risk.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 198. Acquaint them [tender-plants] gradually with the Air … for this change is the most critical of the whole year.
1767. Junius Lett., iv. 25. Considering the critical situation of this country.
1836. W. Irving, Astoria, I. 149. The relations between [them] … were at that time in a critical state; in fact, the two countries were on the eve of a war.
1883. Manch. Guardian, 17 Oct., 5/2. Mrs. Haslam’s throat was badly cut and her condition is deemed critical.
6. Tending to determine or decide; decisive, crucial.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. vii. 201. The alterations … in our conceptions of the material Universe … are critical instances of the influence [of] … Natural Philosophy … over Scholastic Theology.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. i. 230. Here … we have a critical analogy between sound and light.
7. Math. and Physics. Constituting or relating to a point at which some action, property or condition passes over into another; constituting an extreme or limiting case; as critical angle, in Optics, that angle of incidence beyond which rays of light passing through a denser medium to the surface of a rarer are no longer refracted but totally reflected; critical point or temperature for any particular substance, that temperature above which it remains in the gaseous state and cannot be liquefied by any amount of pressure.
1841. J. R. Young, Math. Dissert., Pref. 7. Even in the extreme and critical case of the problem.
1873. W. Lees, Acoustics, II. iii. 53. This angle … is called the limiting or critical angle of refraction.
1876. Tait, Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc., xiii. 336. The temperature rises to the critical point, i.e. the temperature at and above which the presence of liquid and vapour together becomes impossible.
1881. T. Matthieu Williams, in Knowledge, No. 8. 157. That Jupiter is neither a solid, a liquid, nor a gaseous planet, but a critical planet.
8. Zool. and Bot. Of species: Distinguished by slight or questionable differences; uncertain or difficult to determine.
1854. Woodward, Mollusca, III. (1856), 360. Most of these are minute or critical species.
1858. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XIX. I. 104. Crossing often renders certain species of plants very ‘critical.’
1884. Jrnl. Bot., XXII. 128. When he … ran down some less familiar or critical species.
