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Webster 1913 Edition


Peruse

Pe-ruse′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Perused
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Perusing
.]
[Pref.
per-
+
use
.]
1.
To observe; to examine with care.
[R.]
Myself I then
perused
, and limb by limb
Surveyed.
Milton.
2.
To read through; to read carefully.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Peruse

PERU'SE

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. [Some of the senses of this word would lead to the inference that it is from the Latin perviso. If not, I know not its origin.]
1.
To read, or to read with attention.
2.
To observe; to examine with careful survey.
I have perus'd her well.
Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd.

Definition 2024


peruse

peruse

English

Noun

peruse (plural peruses)

  1. An examination or perusal; an instance of perusing.
    • 2008, Dave Robson, "Hi-tea, low cost!", Evening Gazette online, September 12,
      A peruse of the website looked promising []

Translations

Verb

peruse (third-person singular simple present peruses, present participle perusing, simple past and past participle perused)

  1. (transitive) To examine or consider with care.
  2. (transitive) To read completely.
    • 1887, H. Rider Haggard, She, Introduction:
      We are for reasons that, after perusing this manuscript, you may be able to guess, going away again this time to Central Asia []
  3. (transitive, informal) To look over casually; to skim.
    • 2001, Doug Stanton, In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis, ISBN 0805066322, page 35:
      Haynes quickly perused the message, then took it to the captain on the bridge.
    • 2005, Al Lovejoy, Acid Alex, ISBN 1770070931, page 98:
      She asked Denise for the court file, which she fussed from her handbag. The woman perused it briefly and then beamed up at me.
  4. (intransitive, regional) To go from place to place; to wander.
    • 1957, Robert Ruark, The Old Man And The Boy, ISBN 0805002391, page 55:
      I loved to straggle off in the mornings [] , just perusing around for firewood.

Usage notes

  • The sense of "skimming" is proscribed by some authorities on usage, including the Oxford American Dictionary. The shift, however, is not dissimilar to that found in scan. The Oxford English Dictionary further notes that the word was used as a general synonym for read as far back as the 16th century.

Translations

Derived terms

Anagrams


Latin

Participle

peruse

  1. vocative masculine singular of perusus