critically

adv

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *krey- Proto-Indo-European *krinyétider. Proto-Hellenic *kríňňō Ancient Greek κρῑ́νω (krī́nō) Ancient Greek κρῐ- (krĭ-) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek κρῐτής (krĭtḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós)bor. Latin criticus Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English critical Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English critically From critical + -ly.

1. In a critical manner; with, or in terms of, criticism.

   “I looked critically at the frayed carpet of the hotel room.”

   “Girard critically examines Nietzsche's central contention that Christianity is a religion of sublimated vengeance or ressentiment and contents that although Nietzsche is half right about Christians he remains dangerously naive about violence itself.”

2. In terms of critique, review, of or by critics

   “a critically applauded film”

3. With close discernment; accurately; exactly.

   “Thus difficult it is to underſtand the purity of Engliſh, and critically to diſcern not only good Writers from bad, and a proper ſtile from a corrupt, but alſo to diſtinguiſh that which is pure in a good Author, from that which is vicious and corrupt in him.”

4. At a crisis or critical time; in a situation, place, or condition of decisive consequence.

   “a fortification critically situated”

   “Coming critically the night before the session.”

5. Requiring immediate attention; likely to cause a collapse.

   “critically ill”

   “critically injured”