scrutiny means intense study of someone or something.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, scrutiny ranks #2,350 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words, #2,357 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,100 of 14,440 for Most Satisfying to Say.
scrutiny is pronounced /ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/.
Why “scrutiny” is a great word
A close, critical examination or inspection. From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium ("a search, an inquiry"), from Vulgar Latin scrūtor ("to search or examine thoroughly"), from Late Latin scrūta ("rubbish, broken trash"), from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ("to cut"). Unlike a "glance," which is fleeting and casual, or a "survey," which takes a sweeping, general view, scrutiny is the deliberate excavation of what others overlook. It is the jeweler’s loupe fixed on a flaw, the auditor’s finger tracing each line of a ledger in lamplight, or the archaeologist sifting through what was discarded to find what was lost—the patient, cutting work of attention applied until rubbish yields its secret worth.
Etymology
From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium (“a search, an inquiry”), from Vulgar Latin scrūtor (“to search or examine thoroughly”), from Late Latin scrūta (“rubbish, broken trash”), from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”).
noun
- Intense study of someone or something.“Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view / And narrower scrutiny.”
- Thorough inspection of a situation or a case.“come under scrutiny”
- An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.
- A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.
- An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll.“The Returning Officer on the day appointed to make a scrutiny of the poll”
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