perusal
Americannoun
-
a reading.
a perusal of the current books.
-
the act of perusing; survey; scrutiny.
A more careful perusal yields this conclusion.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of perusal
Explanation
Perusal is the activity of carefully reading, poring over, or studying something with the intent of remembering it. Sometimes the word perusal is used incorrectly, as in, “I’ll make a quick perusal of this document and then we’ll start the meeting.” Don’t do that. Remember that perusal actually means “thorough reading.” The verb form of this word, peruse, dates from the late 15th century, when it meant “use up" or "wear out.” So, take care: The perusal of a book could be so intense that it wears the book out!
Vocabulary lists containing perusal
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 5
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The Chocolate War
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perusal of the website suggests rampant tawdriness—and not the fun kind, either.
From Slate • Feb. 5, 2014
Said General MacArthur: "Perusal of the letters will show any fair-minded person that they were neither politically inspired nor intended to convey blanket approval of the Congressman's views."
From Time Magazine Archive
Diligent Perusal Sirs: Orchids to you for your clear, complete and reverent handling of all the news relevant to the Vatican since the death of His Holiness, Pope Pius XI.
From Time Magazine Archive
I must confess, my Lord, had not I already received great Instances of your Favour, I should have been afraid of submitting a Work of this Nature to your Perusal.
From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph
And I am of opinion that the Publick will be very well pleased with the Perusal of these Oriental Stories.
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 10 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
