inspector
(ɪnˈspɛktə(r))
Also 7 -er.
[a. L. inspector, agent-n. from inspicĕre to look into, inspect. Cf. F. inspecteur (c 1500 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. One who inspects or looks carefully at or into; an overseer, a superintendent; spec. an officer appointed to examine into, and supervise or report upon, the working of some department or institution in which numerous persons are employed, or the due observance of certain laws and regulations, as inspector of schools, inspector of weights and measures, inspector of factories, mines, explosives, public nuisances, etc.
| 1602 F. Herring Anatomyes 78 The Eternall, as a carefull Inspector and sincere Judge of them. 1660 Milton Free Commw. Wks. (1851) 433 They..must raise and manage the publick Revenue, at least with som Inspectors deputed for satisfaction of the People, how it is imploid. 1734 Bolingbroke Let. to Swift 15 Sept., S.'s Wks. 1841 II. 725, I wrote to you a long letter some time ago..did the inspectors of private correspondence stop it? 1791 Bentham Panopt. i. Postscr. 93 An Inspector in his way to the prisoners' Stair-case from the Inspection-Gallery. 1802 A. Hamilton Wks. (1886) VII. 253 When the excise on distilled spirits was established, three different descriptions of officers were instituted..supervisors, inspectors, and collectors. 1898 Hazell's Ann. 208/2 Occasional unannounced visits of the inspector, in lieu of the annual examination. |
| attrib. 1878 F. S. Williams Midl. Railw. 624 There are a number of..inspector guards, one of whom is selected to take charge of every excursion train, a duty involving special responsibilities and care. 1898 Daily News 30 July 3/1 The lesson to be drawn from the recent cases both of phosphorus and lead poisoning is..that the inspector system has broken down. |
b. One who looks
into something for information, from curiosity, etc.
| 1667 Pepys Diary 25 Apr., A severer inspector into his own business and accounts. 1670 Marvell Corr. cliv. Wks. 1872–5 II. 339, I..must in exchange desire you will not admit many inspectors into my letters. 1774 Walker Pronounc. Dict. Advt., If the inspector should not meet with sufficient information in the Dictionary under the word, let him consult the Principles under the vowel, diphthong, or consonant, he wishes to be explained. |
c. An officer of police ranking next below a superintendent and above a sergeant.
| 1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 335/2 The number of men of each rank serving in the metropolitan police force, in January, 1840, was as follows:—..73 Inspectors. 1898 Hazell's Ann. 529/1 The total strength of the [City of London police] force is 928, consisting of 3 chief inspectors, 15 district inspectors, 22 station inspectors, 12 detective inspectors, 72 sergeants [etc.]. |
2. Gr. Antiq. Used as a translation of
Gr. ἐπόπτης, a person fully initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries;
= epopt.
| 1818 R. P. Knight Inquiry Anc. Art. & Myth. §10. 6 These doctrines were conveyed under allegories and symbols; and..the completely initiated were called inspectors. |
3. inspector-general: an officer at the head of a system of inspection, having under him a body of inspectors; a superintendent of a system of inspection.
| 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3841/3 Monsieur Puissegure, Inspector-General of their Foot. 1813 Wellington Lett. 4 Oct. in Gurw. Desp. XI. 159 The inspector general of the infantry fell from his horse. 1859 Musketry Instr. 98 The Inspector General of Musketry, being held responsible that the rifle training is conducted efficiently and according to regulation. 1898 Hazell's Ann. 530/2 The principal officer of the [Irish] Constabulary is the Inspector-General, resident in Dublin, and who is assisted by a Deputy Inspector-General and three Assistant Inspectors-General. |