adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ d ī - ə - ' kri-ti-k ə l
Variant: also di · a · crit · ic \ - ' kri-tik \
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek diakritikos separative, from diakrinein to distinguish, from dia- + krinein to separate ― more at CERTAIN
Date: 1749
1 : serving as a diacritic
2 a : DISTINCTIVE <the diacritical elements in culture ― S. F. Nadel> b : capable of distinguishing <students of superior diacritical powers>