▪ I. review, n.
(rɪˈvjuː)
Also re-view. Also 6 reveu, 6–7 rev-, reuiewe, 7 reuiew.
[a. older F. reveue (mod.F. revue), verbal n. f. revoir, f. re- re- + voir:—L. vidēre to see.]
I. 1. a. The act of looking over something (again), with a view to correction or improvement; a revision (of a book, etc.). Now rare.
| 1565 in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 27 We think so well of the first impression, and reviewe of those whiche have sithens travailed therin. 1622 Jaggard Note to Brooke's Disc. Err. Catal. Nobility, The sight alone of such a Reuerend man..would do more good for keeping the presse in order then the view, and review of twentie proofes by himselfe. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients A 3 Some things having passed therein, which..in the review..I wished might be altered. 1710 C. Wheatly Bk. Com. Prayer Pref., Some particular Alterations in after Reviews it will not be necessary to enter into the Detail of. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 354 What we have left standing in our several reviews and reformations, as well as to what we have altered or superadded. |
† b. A revise in printing. Obs. rare—1.
| 1622 Jaggard Note to Brooke's Disc. Err. Catal. Nobility, Though hee came not in person to ouer-looke the Presse, yet the Proofe, and Reuiewes duly attended him, and he perused them..in the maner he did before. |
2. Law. Revision of a sentence, etc., by some other court or authority.
| 1654 Bramhall Just Vind. iii. (1661) 34 To render final justice, that is, to receive the last appeals of his own Subjects, without fear of any review from Rome. 1689 Burnet Tracts (1689) I. 79 The Decisions of this Court can never be brought under a second Review. 1706 Act 6 Anne c. 11 §12 All reviews, reductions or suspensions of the sentences in maritime cases. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 11 Their sentence is final, decisive, irrevocable: no appeal, no correction, not even a review can be had. 1807 Act 48 Geo. III, c. 151 §16 To submit the said Interlocutor..to the Review of the Division to which the said Lord Ordinary belongs. 1833 Act 3 & 4 Will. IV, c. 46 §70 The decision of the magistrate shall be final, and not subject to review in any court. 1864 Pomeroy Munic. Law §283 There is ample provision made for a review..of the rulings of law made by the judge at the trial. |
b. bill of review: (see quot. 1838).
| 1676 Duke Moor's Law Charit. Uses Table s.v. Relief, No relief upon a Bill of Review, after an Appeal, but in Parliament. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 454 A bill of review may be had upon apparent error in judgment, appearing on the face of the decree; or, by special leave of the court. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 508 Upon a bill of review brought between 30 and 40 years after the decree pronounced. 1838 Story Equity Pleadings 15 A Bill of Review, which is brought to examine and reverse a decree made upon a former Bill, which has been duly enrolled, and thereby become a record of the Court. |
c. commission, court, of review: (see quots.).
| a 1633 Coke Inst. iv. lxxiv. (1648) 341 Upon a sentence given by the High Commissioners, a Commission of Review may be granted to and for the party grieved. 1766 Entick London IV. 33 The king has it in his power to grant a commission of review under the broad seal, for the delegates to consider and judge again, what has been decreed in the court of delegates. 1831 Act 1 & 2 Will. IV, c. 56 §2 The said Judges or any Three of them shall..form a Court of Review,..and shall have Superintendance and Controul in all Matters of Bankruptcy. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 344 The court of review, in all questions connected with the representation of the peerage of Scotland, is the House of Lords. |
3. a. A formal inspection of military or naval forces by the sovereign or other high personage, or by the general in command.
| [1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. ii, We made..reuiewe of the gentlemen, souldiers and other of our company.] 1683 Lond. Gaz. No. 1839/3 On Thursday last his Most Christian Majesty took a Review of the Cavalry. 1713 Ibid. No. 5106/3 Their Lordships will meet at the Horse-Guards..to finish the said Review. 1771 Junius Lett. xlii. (1788) 242 It is not probable that he would appear again before his soldiers, even in the pacific ceremony of a review. 1837 Dickens Pickw. iv, A grand review was to take place upon the Lines. a 1878 Princess Alice Biogr. Sk. & Lett. (1884) 164 The Sultan,..in whose honour a great naval review at Spithead was held. |
| attrib. 1740 Life & Adv. Mrs. Christian Davies 500 He allowed me exclusive of all others to sell beer in the Deer Park on a review day. 1781 R. F. Greville Diary 4 Aug. (1930) 9 We came on Ashford Common where the Blues were drawn up in Review Order. 1876 Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 244/2 When a regiment or any larger body of men pass in review order before the sovereign or reviewing officer. |
| transf. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy vi. vii, At the great and general review of us all, corporal, at the day of judgment. 1796 Grose's Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 3), Review of the Black Cuirassiers, a visitation of the clergy. 1840 Mrs. Trollope Widow Married i, She had made up her mind that day to have a general review of all her children's heads. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, The guests filed out in the best order: Miss Abbey standing at the..door.., to hold a ceremony of review and dismissal. |
b. In phr. to march or pass in review.
| 1728 Pope Dunc. iii. Argt., Some of the persons he causes to pass in review before his eyes. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 170 ¶2 The little family passed in review before him. 1769 T. Nevile Imit. Juvenal 70 She sees him now in Sash and Solitaire March in Review. |
4. An inspection, examination. in review, under examination.
| 1611 Cotgr., Revisit, a review taken by the King of his Officers accounts. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. iv. 23 At the end of May I make a second review, and if I find one branch..stronger than the other, I cut..it off. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §262 note, This bolt and shackle would necessarily be in review on getting in the bridle. 1833 Herschel Astron. viii. 276 Uranus was discovered by Sir W. Herschel in 1781,..in the course of a review of the heavens. 1863 G. J. Whyte-Melville Gladiators I. 298 As the crowd pass the different combatants in review, none..have more backers than their old favourite. |
5. a. A general survey or reconsideration of some subject or thing.
| 1604 Parsons Review Ten Publike Disput. Pref., I have thought good here to examine all together in this Re-view. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage i. xiii. (1614) 71 Let vs take a little reuiew of some principall occurrents in the former Catalogue. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. Pref. 1 To take a Review of the old and new Game of Pamphlets, play'd and penn'd by the meaner sort. 1736 Butler Anal. ii. iii. 380 They amount to a much higher degree of proof upon such a joint review. 1774 Burke Sp. Amer. Tax. Pref., Wks. II. 348 He has taken a review of the effects of all the schemes which have been successively adopted. 1871 C. Davies Metric Syst. iii. 178 The review of the proceedings in Great Britain and France..presents the general subject under two very different aspects. |
b. Without article, esp. in review or under review.
| 1729 Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II. Pref. 6 Review and attention, and even forming a judgment, becomes fatigue. 1811 Shelley St. Irvyne x, It would unfold a tale of too much horror to trace, in review, the circumstances as they then occurred. 1878 Browning La Saisiaz 25 Passing lightly in review What seemed hits and what seemed misses. 1888 Pall Mall G. 7 Feb. 11/1 Passing under review the war dangers to which Germany and Prussia have been exposed. |
c. Const. of (the agent).
| 1800 Colquhoun Comm. Thames Pref. p. vi, A variety of offences..have been brought under the review of the Reader. 1875 Whitney Life Lang. ii. 15 Directions given but not executed under the review of consciousness. |
d. attrib.
| 1965 New Statesman 19 Mar. 430/1 Only on one point does he reject the BMA case—he insists that the Review Body must work out the new pay-levels. 1968 Panorama (Austral.) May 2/4 They sat in ‘review board’ to use an advertising agency term. They were briefed on the new type of meal which the management had in mind. 1971 D. Bagley Freedom Trap ii. 53 ‘You have been classified as a high risk... If you weren't so stupid you could get yourself out of this jam.’ ‘Out of this nick?’ ‘I'm afraid not... But the Review Board would look upon you very kindly if you co-operated with us.’ 1977 Belfast Tel. 22 Feb. 12/1 The Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 became law. It implements recommendations of the Review Body on Industrial Relations which reported in 1974. |
6. A retrospective survey of past actions, etc.
| 1673 Rem. Humours Town 20 The reviews of their own vertuous actions may give them content. 1773 Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 27 Apr., I have lived a life of which I do not like the review. 1784 Cowper Task iv. 184 Mem'ry's pointing wand, That calls the past to our exact review. 1855 M. Arnold New Sirens xvii, Is the pleasure that is tasted Patient of a long review? |
7. a. A general account or criticism of a literary work, a musical or dramatic performance, etc. (esp. new or recent) either published separately or, more usually, as an article in a periodical or newspaper.
| 1649 R. Baillie (title), A Review of Doctor Bramble..his Faire Warning. 1712 Hearne Collect. (O.H.S.) IV. 44 When I wrote last, I had not seen w{supt} honour yo have done me in y⊇ Review of Leland. 1772 Wesley Jrnl. 11 July, I was presented with Mr. Hill's Review. 1824 W. E. Andrews (title), Critical Review of Fox's Book of Martyrs. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis xlii, If a review of his work was very laudatory, it was a great pleasure to him to send it home to his mother at Fairoaks. 1898 L. Stephen Stud. Biogr. II. ii. 69 The fuller reviews, which in the Edinburgh supplanted the old meagre analysis of books. 1929 [see gag n.1 3 c]. 1967 J. Philip et al. Best of Granta i. 18 Jazz features regularly in the record reviews. |
b. A periodical publication consisting mainly of articles in which current events or questions, or literary works, are discussed or criticized.
| 1705 Hud. Rediv. ii. 10 No matter whether false or true, Take pattern by D[e] F[oe]'s Review. a 1721 Prior Daphne & Apollo 35 So do your Brother Quacks and Brother Beaus. Memorials only, and Reviews, write Prose. 1759 Ann. Reg. Pref. vi, Endeavouring to be as extensively useful as possible, we aimed at uniting the plan of the Magazines with that of the Reviews. 1813 Southey March to Moscow v, They all of them knew Mr. Jeffrey's Review, Which with Holy Writ ought to be reckon'd. 1865 Sat. Rev. 5 Aug. 169/1 There were no reviews in which he might either suggest his own improvements or be censured for his plagiarisms. |
c. attrib. and Comb. review article, an article that is a review; review copy, a copy of a new book sent for review to a periodical, writer, etc.
| 1781 Cowper Let. to J. Newton 17 Dec., I would not appear a dunce in matters that every Review-reader must needs be apprized of. 1807 Southey Lett. (1850) III. 115, I will seek more review employment,..and scribble verses for the newspapers. 1820–1 Byron in Westm. Gaz. (1901) 5 Feb. 3/2 Your review people have no more right to kill, than any other footpads. 1836 J. S. Mill in London & Westm. Rev. Apr. 17 The attention cannot sustain itself on any serious subject, even for the space of a review-article. 1855 Bagehot Coll. Wks. (1965) I. 310 In truth review-writing but exemplifies the casual character of modern literature. Ibid. 312 The review-like essay and the essay-like review fill a large space. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. I. i. i. 16 The British Writer..images to himself a royal Dick Turpin, of the kind known in Review-Articles. 1903 G. B. Shaw Let. 15 July (1972) II. 338 To whom do you propose to send review copies? 1906 A. Bennett Let. 27 Feb. (1966) 69, I sent him a list of review-quotes but I have seen no result. 1907 F. M. Ford Let. ? Sept. (1965) 26, I had proposed to run to a column a week at, say, your ordinary review rates. 1933 Leavis & Thompson Culture & Environment 44 Examine the review pages of a Sunday newspaper. 1937 H. Nicolson Diary 11 July (1966) 307 Read my review books and spend a peaceful afternoon. 1965 New Statesman 19 Mar. 455/1 Judgments of this kind are proper to the review-article of modern length. 1966 C. Mackenzie My Life & Times V. 243, I asked..if we might count on review records coming regularly from H.M.V. 1976 Guardian 17 Apr. 11/6 Scarcely a day goes by without review copies reaching this office of books..on growing potato crops on the windowsills of Chelsea. 1978 Amer. N. & Q. XVI. 162/2 The front endsheets..are upside down in one review copy. 1979 London Rev. Bks. 25 Oct. 2/2 Any squeeze on review space squeezes fiction first. |
II. 8. a. A second or repeated view.
This would now be taken as re-view (riː-).
| 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 156 Abbas..having in that sort satisfied his passion, returned..to take a re-view of his cruel execution. 1683 Kennett tr. Erasm. on Folly 37 That which at first blush seems alive, is in truth dead; and that again which appears as dead, at a nearer review proves to be alive. 1704 Swift T. Tub Ep. Ded. to Prince Posterity, Returning in a very few Hours to take a Review, they were all torn down, and fresh ones in their Places. 1705 Atterbury Serm. ii. (1726) II. 65 The Works of Nature will bear a Thousand Views, and Reviews, and will still appear new to us. |
† b. The fact of seeing some place or person again. Obs. rare.
| 1652 J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox vi. 127 As the weary Pilgrim after a tedious travaill rejoyceth at the re⁓view of his Native Soil. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 211 Our fellows..found us at Carboran,..where you may imagine the joy this review diffused through all of us. |
Add: [II.] 9. A facility for playing a video or audio recording during a fast rewind, so that it can be stopped when a desired point is reached.
Occurs almost invariably in association with cue n.2 1 d, the term for the analogous forward function.
| 1978, etc. [see cue n.2 1 d]. |
▪ II. review, v.
(rɪˈvjuː)
Also 6–7 reuiew.
[f. re- and view v. (cf. prec.), after F. revoir, Sp. and Pg. rever, It. rividere, L. revidēre.]
† 1. trans. To see or behold again. Obs.
| 1591 Troub. Raigne K. John (1611) 28 Twise will I not reuiew the mornings rise, Till I haue torne that trophie from thy backe. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ix. iv. (1614) 842 Long it was before his longing could be satisfied to re⁓uiew his Countrey and friends. 1725 Pope Odyss. vi. 347 Would'st thou soon review thy native plain? 1762 Falconer Shipwr. i. 401 Where, anxious to review his native shore, He on the roaring wave embark'd once more. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 4 Upon reviewing a place after an absence of some time, the several actions which formerly have passed there are wont to occur to the mind. |
2. To view, inspect, or examine a second time or again. (In contrast to view.)
This would now be pronounced with (riː-) and usually written re-view.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. q.v., To such a one I giue counsel..to view and reuiew..such weapons as he shall finde in this our Panoplie. 1591 Savile Tacitus, Hist. i. xliv. 24 No heade did he [Otho] view and reuiew so insatiably. 1616 R. C. Time's Whistle (1871) 2 Many hundred..eyes View, and review, each line, each word, as spies. 1653 Greaves Seraglio 153 These slaves are bought, and sold, as beasts, and cattle are, they being viewed, and reviewed. 1762 Sterne Tr. Shandy vi. i, How they viewed and re⁓viewed us as we passed over the rivulet! 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxv, [They] were on the battlements again, viewing and re-viewing the state of their preparations. |
† 3. a. To look over or through (a book, etc.) in order to correct or improve; to revise. Obs.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1274 Dionysius had put into his hands a tragedy of his owne making, commanding him to review and correct the same. 1639 N. N. tr. Du Bosq's Compl. Woman i. B, This is certain, they have put the Author of this booke upon it, to review it well. 1695 J. Edwards Perfect. Script. 360 Ezra..reviewed the copies, and amended all errata's. a 1715 Burnet Own Time Pref., I am now beginning to review and write over again the History of my own time. |
| absol. 1622 Jaggard Note to Brooke's Disc. Err. Catal. Nobility, He viewed, reuiewed, directed, corrected, or whatsoeuer els. |
† b. To re-examine; to reconsider. Obs. rare.
| 1607 Norden Surv. Dial. i. 31 Euery Lord of a Mannor should cause his Lands to be duly seene, and truly surueyed and certifyed, and once in seuen or tenne yeares to haue it reuiewed. 1672 Petty Pol. Anat. (1691) 18 Those who think 154,000 were so destroyed ought to review the grounds of their Opinion. |
4. Law. To submit (a decree, act, etc.) to examination or revision.
| 1621 H. Elsing Debates Ho. Lords (Camden) 120 All my decrees have ben reviewed: yea, all my orders and peticions. 1771 Junius Lett. lx. (1788) 323 That parliament may review the acts of ministers is unquestionable. 1817 Parl. Debates 731 Praying that the Act.., regarding conveyancers, might be reviewed for the purpose of being repealed or amended. 1858 Ld. St. Leonards Handy-Bk. Prop. Law xii. 77 The order may be reviewed or may be appealed from. 1892 Law Times Rep. LXVII. 211/1 The court, on appeal, can review the exercise of his discretion by the County Court Judge. |
5. a. To survey; to take a survey of.
| c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. lxxiv, When thou reuewest this, thou doest reuew, The very part was consecrate to thee. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 347 After ten dayes feasting, reviewing Heidleberg, [we]..set forward. 1678 Bunyan Pilgr. i. (1900) 26 The which [parlour], after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. 1725 Pope Odyss. iii. 127 Shall I the long, laborious scene review, And open all the wounds of Greece anew? 1787 Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 291 When I review his dispositions, and review his conduct, I have little hope. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. I. 164 With his eyes seemingly cast down, he was employed in reviewing the charms of her lovely daughter. 1862 Sir B. Brodie Psychol. Inq. II. i. 28 [He] reviews the whole of the facts..before he ventures to draw any conclusions from them. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §2. 461 We must cursorily review the fortunes of Protestantism during the reign of Elizabeth. |
| absol. 1717 Pope Ep. to Mr. Jervas 21 How oft [do we] review; each finding like a friend Something to blame, and something to commend! |
b. To look back upon; to regard or survey in retrospection.
| 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 141 ¶2 Whoever shall review his life will generally find [etc.]. 1779 ― L.P., Duke (1868) 205 Some of his compositions are such as he must have reviewed with detestation in his later days. 1807 Wordsw. White Doe ii. 105 The past he calmly hath reviewed. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis liv, As from a precipice down which he might have fallen,..he reviewed the Fanny Bolton snare, now that he had escaped out of it. |
6. To make a formal inspection, to hold a review, of (troops, etc.).
| 1712–4 Pope Rape Lock iii. 45 The skilful Nymph reviews her force with care. 1713 Lond. Gaz. No. 5106/3 The Lords..have Review'd the greater Part of the Out-Pensioners. 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Order of battle, In order to engage the enemy, or to be reviewed by the general. 1828 Campbell Departure of Emigrants for N.S.W. 73 Hosts review'd in dazzling files and squares. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop lii, He charged the boy to run off and bring his schoolmates to be marshalled before their new master, and solemnly reviewed. 1889 Infantry Drill 443 When troops are reviewed in line of quarter columns, the brigadier only will accompany the reviewing general. |
7. To write an appreciation or criticism of (a new literary work, a musical or dramatic performance, etc.); also absol., to write reviews; to follow the occupation of a reviewer.
| 1781 Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 12 Nov., I would never review the work of an anonymous authour. 1783 Cowper Let. to Unwin Wks. 1836 II. 30, I am reviewed, and my book forwarded in its progress by a judicious recommendation. 1809 Byron Bards & Rev. 549 See honest Hallam..Resume his pen, review his Lordship's work. 1839 Hallam Hist. Lit. iv. vii. §24 The first book ever reviewed..was an edition of the works of Victor Vitensis and Vigilius Papsensis. 1873 Lytton Kenelm Chillingly II. iv. iv. 232 By the way, when we come by-and-by to review the exhibition at Burlington House, there is one painter whom we must try our best to crush. 1892 Dobson 18th Cent. Vignettes 59 He drew up the ‘Proposals’ for a complete edition of her works, and he reviewed her repeatedly. 1976 Gramophone Feb. 1404/3 The Denon PMA-500 amplifier has been a real pleasure to review. |
Hence reˈviewed ppl. a.
| 1840 Hood Up Rhine Introd. 3 It is the fashion now for the reviewed to retaliate on the reviewers. |