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Webster 1913 Edition


Examine

Ex-am′ine

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Examined
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Examining
.]
[L.
examinare
,
examinatum
, fr.
examen
,
examinis
: cf. F.
examiner
. See
Examen
.]
1.
To test by any appropriate method; to inspect carefully with a view to discover the real character or state of; to subject to inquiry or inspection of particulars for the purpose of obtaining a fuller insight into the subject of examination, as a material substance, a fact, a reason, a cause, the truth of a statement; to inquire or search into; to explore;
as, to
examine
a mineral; to
examine
a ship to know whether she is seaworthy; to
examine
a proposition, theory, or question.
Examine
well your own thoughts.
Chaucer.
Examine
their counsels and their cares.
Shakespeare
2.
To interrogate as in a judicial proceeding; to try or test by question;
as, to
examine
a witness in order to elicit testimony, a student to test his qualifications, a bankrupt touching the state of his property, etc.
Syn. – To discuss; debate; scrutinize; search into; investigate; explore. See
Discuss
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Examine

EXAM'INE

,
Verb.
T.
egzam'in. [L. examino, from examen.]
1.
To inspect carefully, with a view to discover truth or the real state of a thing; as, to examine a ship to know whether she is sea-worthy, or a house to know whether repairs are wanted.
2. To search or inquire into facts and circumstances by interrogating; as, to examine a witness.
3.
To look into the state of a subject; to view in all its aspects; to weigh arguments and compare facts, with a view to form a correct opinion or judgment. Let us examine this proposition; let us examine this subject in all its relations and bearing; let us examine into the state of this question.
4.
To inquire into the improvements or qualifications of students, by interrogatories, proposing problems, or by hearing their recitals; as, to examine the classes in college; to examine the candidates for a degree, or for a license to preach or to practice in a profession.
5.
To try or assay by experiments; as, to examine minerals.
6.
To try by a rule or law.
Examine yourselves whether ye are in the faith. 2 Cor.13.
7.
In general, to search; to scrutinize; to explore, with a view to discover truth; as, to examine ourselves; to examine the extent of human knowledge.

Definition 2024


examine

examine

See also: examiné

English

Alternative forms

Verb

examine (third-person singular simple present examines, present participle examining, simple past and past participle examined)

  1. To observe or inspect carefully or critically.
    He examined the crime scene for clues.
    She examined the hair sample under a microscope.
    • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page vii
      With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get []
  2. To check the health or condition of something or someone.
    The doctor examined the patient.
  3. To determine the aptitude, skills or qualifications of someone by subjecting them to an examination.
  4. To interrogate.
    The witness was examined under oath.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

See also

Translations


French

Verb

examine

  1. first-person singular present indicative of examiner
  2. third-person singular present indicative of examiner
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of examiner
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of examiner
  5. second-person singular imperative of examiner

Latin

Noun

exāmine

  1. ablative singular of exāmen

Portuguese

Verb

examine

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of examinar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of examinar
  3. first-person singular imperative of examinar
  4. third-person singular imperative of examinar

Spanish

Verb

examine

  1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of examinar.
  2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of examinar.
  3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of examinar.
  4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of examinar.