'criticize' originates from Late Latin 'criticizare' and from French 'critiquer', ultimately from Greek 'kritikos' (κριτικός) meaning 'able to judge' derived from 'krinein' meaning 'to separate, decide'.

'kritikos' (Greek) → 'criticus' (Latin) → 'criticizare' (Late Latin) → 'critiquer' (Old French) → English 'criticise/criticize' (modern forms; -ize is common in American English).

Initially it meant 'to judge or discern' (making evaluations); over time it evolved to emphasize expressing disapproval or providing evaluative commentary, which is the common modern sense.