examine

examine
\ \ [14] Like essay and exact, examine comes ultimately from Latin exigere, a compound verb formed from the prefix ex- ‘out’ and agerelead, drive’ (source of English act and agent). This originally meant literally ‘drive out’, but a metaphorical sense ‘weigh accurately’ developed which was carried over into a derived noun exāmenweighing’. This in turn formed the basis of another derivative, the verb exāmināreweigh’, hence ‘weigh up, ponder, consider, test, examine’. The abbreviation exam for examination dates from the late 19th century.
\ \ Cf.ACT, AGENT, ESSAY, EXACT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Examine — Ex*am ine, v. 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • examine — ex·am·ine vt ex·am·ined, ex·am·in·ing 1: to investigate or inspect closely examine the title compare audit 2: to question closely esp. in a court proceeding compare depose …   Law dictionary

  • examine — UK US /ɪgˈzæmɪn/ verb [T] ► to check or study something carefully, especially to prove an idea, learn new information, or discover possible problems: thoroughly/closely/carefully examine sth »The company’s financial statements will then be… …   Financial and business terms

  • examiné — examiné, ée (è gza mi né, née) part. passé. 1°   Les lieux examinés avec soin. •   .... Mais sur la foi d un songe, Dans le sang d un enfant voulez vous qu on se plonge ? Vous ne savez encor de quel père il est né, Quel il est. On le craint, tout …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • examine — [v1] analyze, test appraise, assay, audit, canvass, case, check, check out, chew over*, consider, criticize, delve into, dig into, explore, eye*, finger*, frisk, go into, go over, go through, gun*, inquire, inspect, investigate, look over, look… …   New thesaurus

  • examiné — Examiné, [examin]ée. part. On dit fig. qu Un habit, que du linge est bien examiné, pour dire, qu Il est bien usé. Ce manteau est bien examiné, il monstre la corde …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • examine — [eg zam′ən, igzam′ən] vt. examined, examining [ME examinen < OFr examiner < L examinare, to weigh, ponder, examine < examen, tongue of a balance, examination < ex , out + base of agere, to lead, move: see ACT1] 1. to look at or into… …   English World dictionary

  • examine — c.1300, from O.Fr. examiner interrogate, question, torture, from L. examinare to test or try; weigh, consider, ponder, from examen a means of weighing or testing, probably ultimately from exigere weigh accurately (see EXACT (Cf. exact)). Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • examine — 1 inspect, *scrutinize, scan, audit Analogous words: *analyze, dissect, resolve: contemplate, observe, survey, view, notice, note (see SEE) 2 question, interrogate, quiz, catechize, *ask, query, inquire Analogous words: penetrate, probe (see …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • examine — ► VERB 1) inspect closely to determine the nature or condition of. 2) test the knowledge or proficiency of. 3) Law formally question (a defendant or witness) in court. DERIVATIVES examinee noun examiner noun. ORIGIN Latin examinare weigh, test …   English terms dictionary

  • examine — verb ADVERB ▪ carefully, closely, in detail, minutely ▪ Each case must be carefully examined. ▪ We shall now proceed to examine these two aspects of the problem in detail. ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

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