textual criticism

/ˌtɛkstʃ(əw)əl ˌkrɪdəˈsɪzəm/

Definitions of textual criticism

1. noun

   comparison of a particular text with related materials in order to establish authenticity
   types:

   higher criticism

   the scientific study of biblical writings to determine their origin and meaning

   lower criticism

   the study of existing manuscripts of the Scriptures in order to determine the original text

   Masora, Masorah

   a vast body of textual criticism of the Hebrew Scriptures including notes on features of writing and on the occurrence of certain words and on variant sources and instructions for pronunciation and other comments that were written between AD 600 and 900 by Jewish scribes in the margins or at the end of texts

   type of:

   criticism, literary criticism

   a written evaluation of a work of literature