criticism (n.)
大约1600年，“批评行为，品质、性格或品质的讨论； 批评性的评论或论文”，来自 critic + -ism。特别是“评估文学或艺术价值”的意思，指“判断和定义事物的品质或价值的艺术”，始于1670年代。指“对文本的历史和真实性进行调查”（higher criticism 中的意义）始于1660年代。
In the first place, I must take leave to tell them that they wholly mistake the Nature of Criticism who think its business is principally to find fault. Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a Standard of judging well. The chiefest part of which is, to observe those Excellencies which should delight a reasonable Reader. [Dryden, preface to "State of Innocence," 1677]
首先，我必须告诉他们，他们完全误解了批评的本质，认为其主要业务是找错。批评，正如亚里士多德最初设立的那样，是指判断良好的标准。其中最重要的部分是观察那些应该让合理的读者感到高兴的卓越之处。[德莱顿，《无罪状态》前言，1677年]
最早记录年份: c. 1600