Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Scrutiny

Scru′ti-ny

,
Noun.
[L.
scrutinium
, fr.
scrutari
to search carefully, originally, to search even to the rags, fr.
scruta
trash, trumpery; perhaps akin to E.
shred
: cf. AS.
scrudnian
to make scrutiny.]
1.
Close examination; minute inspection; critical observation.
They that have designed exactness and deep
scrutiny
have taken some one part of nature.
Sir M. Hale.
Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view
And narrower
scrutiny
.
Milton.
2.
(Anc. Church)
An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.
3.
(Canon Law)
A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.
4.
(Parliamentary Practice)
An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll.
Brande & C.

Scru′ti-ny

,
Verb.
T.
To scrutinize.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Scrutiny

SCRU'TINY

,
Noun.
[L. scrutinium, from scrutor, to search closely, to pry into.]
1. Close search; minute inquiry; critical examinatiion; as a scrutiny of votes; narrower

Definition 2024

scrutiny

scrutiny

English

Noun

scrutiny ‎(plural scrutinies)

  1. Intense study of someone or something.
    • Milton
      Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view / And narrower scrutiny.
  2. Thorough inspection of a situation or a case.
  3. An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.
  4. A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.
  5. An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Brande & C to this entry?)

Synonyms

Translations

Related terms

Verb

scrutiny ‎(third-person singular simple present scrutinies, present participle scrutinying, simple past and past participle scrutinied)

  1. (obsolete, rare) To scrutinize.

External links

  • scrutiny in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • scrutiny in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • "Scrutiny" in the Catholic Encyclopedia
  • 1916, John R. Clark, "A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary for the Use of Students", scrûtnung
  • Bosworth, J. (2010, March 21). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary Online (T. N. Toller & Others, Eds.). Scrutnung. Retrieved September 18, 2011, from http://bosworth.ff.cuni.cz/027060

Etymology

From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium ‎(“a search, an inquiry”), from Vulgar Latin scrūtārī ‎(“to search or examine thoroughly”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Late Latin scrūta ‎(“rubbish, broken trash”); or of Germanic origin, related to Old English scrūtnung ‎(“examination, investigation, inquiry, search”), from Old English scrūtnian, scrūdnian ‎(“to examine carefully, scrutinize, consider, investigate”), from Proto-Germanic *skrudōną, *skruþōną ‎(“to search, examine”), from Proto-Germanic *skrud-, *skruþ- ‎(“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreut- ‎(“to cut”). Compare Old High German skrodōn, scrutōn, scrutilōn ‎(“to research, explore”), Old High German scrod ‎(“a search, scrutiny”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌷𐍂𐌿𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌽 ‎(andhruskan, “to investigate, explore”), Old English scrēadian ‎(“to shred, cut up, cut off, peel, pare, prune”). More at shred.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/
  • Hyphenation: scru‧ti‧ny

Similar Results