'criticise' originates from Greek via Latin and French: from Greek 'kritikos' (able to judge) and 'kritēs' (judge), through Late Latin 'criticus' and Old French 'critiquer'.

'criticise' changed from Greek 'kritikos' and Greek verb 'krinein' (to separate, decide) into Latin 'criticus', then into Old French 'critiquer', and eventually became English 'criticise' (Middle English forms such as 'criticisen' influenced the modern form).

Initially it meant 'to judge or evaluate' (in a neutral sense); over time it evolved to commonly mean 'to express disapproval or point out faults', though neutral evaluation remains a possible sense.