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Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring. [Obs.] "Critical and collective reason." Sir T. Browne.

One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts. The connoisseur is "one who knows," as opposed to the dilettant, who only "thinks he knows." Fairholt.

consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case.

Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful; hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. "An arrant counterfeit rascal." Shak.

The critical moment in a play, when, contrary to expectation, the action is embroiled in new difficulties. Dryden.

Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [Obs.] "Critic learning." Pope.

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.…

A critical examination or estimate of a work of literature or art; a critical dissertation or essay; a careful and through 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.…

It is the trochilos of ancient writers. -- Crocodile tears, false or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow; -- derived from the fiction of old travelers, that crocodiles shed tears over their prey.

Serving to determine; critical. "The critical or decretory days." Sir T. Browne.

Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical niceness; fastidious accuracy. That Augustan delicacy of taste which is the boast of the great public schools of England. Macaulay.

Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question. There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth. F. W. Robertson.

Critical perception or scrutiny; judgment based on such scrutiny; esp., perception pf, or judgment concerning, motives and character. The quick eye for effects, the clear diagnosis of men's minds, and the love of epigram. Compton Reade. My diagnosis of his character proved correct. J. Payn. Differential diagnosis (Med.…

An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm. A class of critical dicta everywhere current. M. Arnold.

The writer of a treatise or dissertation. Philologers and critical discoursers. Sir T. Browne.

Fig.: The act of separating or dividing for the purpose of critical examination.

That dissembles; hypocritical; false. -- Dis*sem"bling*ly, adv.

Deceitful; hypocritical; treacherous. Milton.

One who emends or critically edits.

ected. I have made several discoveries, which appear new, even to those who are versed in critical learning. Addison.