cris tellar idea

pl. [Mod. Lat. cristel lar ( ia ), and neut. pl. adj. suff. -idea.] 1. Zool .: According to Reu , a family of Foraminifers, one of those with a perforate test, and that division of them in which that testis calcareous, gla y, and finely porous. The species are nautiloid, and present a resemblance in miniature to the Nautilus. Dr. Carpenter, Mr. Parker, and Prof. T. Rupert Jones also recognize the family Cris tellar idea. 2. Palæont.: They extend from the Cretaceous period till now. cri-tër-i-on (pl. criteria), s. [Gr. kriterion , from krites a judge; krino =to judge, to decide.] 1. A standard by which anything is or can be judged; an established law, principle, or fact by which the quality of anything may be estimated. critic Crabb thus discriminates between criterion and standard : "The criterion is employed only in matters of judgment; the standard is used in the ordinary concerns of life. The former serves for determining the characters and qualities of things; the latter for defining quantity and measure. The language and manners of a person are the best criterion for forming an estimate of his station and education. In order to produce a uniformity in the mercantile transactions of mankind one with another, it is the custom of government to set up a certain standard for the regulation of coins, weights, and measures. The word standard may likewise be used figuratively in the same sense. The Bible is a standard of excellence, both in morals and religion, which cannot be too closely followed. It is impo ible to have the same stand ard in the arts and sciences, because all our performances fall short of perfection, and will admit of improvement." (Crabb: Eng. Synon.) "The great criterion of the state of the common people is the amount of their wages."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch, iii. 2. Any ground or basis of judging. "Certain inferences, founded on such enduring cri teria , can be drawn from the historical times to the dark and unknown ages, "-Lewis: Cred. Early Rom . Hist . (1855), ch. viii., § 1., vol. i., p. 268. IMG:content-1344.png:[blocks in formation]