Here's a breakdown of its evolution:
* Ancient Greek: "κριτήριον" was originally used to refer to a judge or an umpire in a contest. It then evolved to mean "standard of judgment" or "test".
* Latin: The word entered Latin as "criterium".
* Middle English: From Latin, it passed into Middle English as "criteri", then later as "criterion".
* Modern English: The word "criterion" was originally singular, but in the 18th century, the plural "criteria" was adopted, even though it was grammatically incorrect. This usage became so widespread that it is now considered the standard plural form.
So, the core meaning of "criteria" has always been about standards or rules used for making judgments and evaluations. It's deeply connected to the idea of making decisions based on specific, objective factors. This fundamental concept continues to be relevant in various fields, from science and academia to everyday decision-making.