different between criterion vs ordinance

English

Alternative forms

• criteria (nonstandard)
• criterium

Etymology

From New Latin criterion, from Ancient Greek ????????? (krit?rion, “a test, a means of judging”), from ?????? (krit?s, “judge”), from ????? (krín?, “to judge”); see critic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?a??t???i.?n/, /k???t???i.?n/
• Rhymes: -??i?n

Noun

criterion (plural criteria)

1. A standard or test by which individual things or people may be compared and judged.

Usage notes

• The plural form criterions also exists, but is much less common.
• The form criteria is sometimes used as a nonstandard singular form (as in a criteria, this criteria, and so on), with corresponding plural form criterias. In this use, it sometimes means “a single criterion”, sometimes “a set of criteria”.

Related terms

• criterial
• crisis
• critic
• criticize
• critical

Translations

Further reading

• criterion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• criterion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• tricerion

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ????????? (krit?rion).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kri?te.ri.on/, [k???t???i?n]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kri?te.ri.on/, [k?i?t????i?n]

Noun

criterion n (genitive criteri?); second declension

1. criterion

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter, Greek-type).

Descendants

• ? Catalan: criteri
• ? Dutch: criterium
• ? English: criterion
• ? German: Kriterium
• ? Italian: criterio
• ? Spanish: criterio

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete) ordinaunce

Etymology

From Middle English (ca. 1300), from Old French ordenance (Modern French ordonnance) "decree, command", from Middle Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of Latin ordinare "put in order" (whence ordain).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???d(?)n?ns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???d(?)n?ns/

Noun

ordinance (plural ordinances)

1. A local law (US)
2. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
   1. (England) Prior to the Third English Civil War, a decree of Parliament.
   2. (Britain, pre-1992 universities, Commonwealth of Nations) Detailed legislation that translates the broad principles of the university's charter and statutes into practical effect.
   3. (Hong Kong) A law enacted by the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
   4. (India) A temporary law promulgated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet.
3. A religious practice or ritual prescribed by the church.

Usage notes

This word is sometimes confused with ordnance, or military weaponry.

Derived terms

• ordnance

Translations

References

• “ordinance”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

Anagrams

• draconine