expiscate

[ek-spuh-skeyt, ek-spis-keyt]

verb (used with object), ex·pis·cat·ed, ex·pis·cat·ing. Chiefly Scot.

to find out by thorough and detailed investigation; discover through scrupulous examination.

Origin of expiscate

1605–15; < Latin expiscātus, past participle of expiscārī to fish out. See ex-¹, pisci-, -ate¹

Related formsex·pis·ca·tion, nounex·pis·ca·to·ry

[ek-spis-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɛkˈspɪs kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective