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scrutiny

[ skroot-n-ee ]
/ ˈskrut n i /
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noun, plural scru·ti·nies.
a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.
surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.
a close and searching look.
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Origin of scrutiny

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin scrĆ«tinium “a search, inquiry, investigation,” derivative of scrĆ«tārÄ« “to search thoroughly”

synonym study for scrutiny

1. See examination.

historical usage of scrutiny

Scrutiny and its related words scrutable and scrutinize come from the Late Latin noun scrĆ«tinium “physical search (of a place) for something hidden.”
ScrĆ«tinium is a derivative of the verb scrĆ«tārÄ«, having a verbal meaning corresponding to scrĆ«tinium, but whose original meaning was “to sort through rags, junk, or trash” ( scrĆ«ta, a neuter plural noun, means “rubbish, trash”), which is very applicable to modern politics. And the earliest sense of scrutiny in English happens to be “the formal taking of votes.”

OTHER WORDS FROM scrutiny

non·scru·ti·ny, noun, plural non·scru·ti·nies.re·scru·ti·ny, noun, plural re·scru·ti·nies.self-scru·ti·ny, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scrutiny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scrutiny

scrutiny
/ (ˈskruːtÉȘnÉȘ) /

noun plural -nies
close or minute examination
a searching look
  1. (in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized
  2. a similar examination of candidates for holy orders

Word Origin for scrutiny

C15: from Late Latin scrƫtinium an investigation, from scrƫtārī to search (originally referring to rag-and-bone men), from scrƫta rubbish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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