▪ I. † eˈxamine, n. Obs. exc. Hist.
[f. next vb. (or ? ad. L. exāmen, -inis: cf. origin).]
= examination. Also attrib.
| 1605 Answ. supposed Discov. Romish Doctr. 43 Therefore the examine of such things we entreate may be left to God. 1630 I. Craven Serm. (1631) 14 Vpon a second examine, it may seeme to be personall. 1662 J. Lamont Diary 21 Sept., Divers persons were excommunicat..both for ignorance, and being absent from the dyetts of examine. 1885 A. Edgar Old Ch. Life Scot. 124 note, It may be presumed that the examine roll was very carefully made up by the minister. |
▪ II. examine, v.
(ɛgˈzæmɪn)
Forms: 4–6 examen(e, examyn(e, (4 examini, 5 examne, exammæn, 6 examme, exemne), 6–7 examin, 4– examine. See also exame.
[ad. F. examiner, ad. L. exāmināre to weigh accurately, test, try, inquire into, f. exāmen: see examen.]
† 1. trans. To try, test, assay (precious metals, etc.). Said both of personal and material agents. Also fig. Obs.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xi. 7 Syluyre examynd in fire. Ibid. xvi. 4 In fire þou examynd me. 1382 Wyclif 2 Sam. xxii. 31 The speche of the Lord examynyd bi fier. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 11 Þis fuyre schal examyne and serche alle men dedes. c 1440 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xxviii, Suffreth it..to be well examyned thorugh ghostly trybulacyons. |
2. a. To test judicially or critically; to try by a standard or rule. Obs. exc. with mixture of sense 3 or 6, to one or other of which phrases like to examine oneself, examine one's conscience, etc. now chiefly belong.
| 1340 Ayenb. 137 He nele naȝt lete ne smal ne grat þet ne ssel by examened..and y-demd ine þe cort of merci. Ibid. 153 He ssel..wel examini his þoȝtes. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶236 In examynyng of youre counseiloures, ye schul considre many thinges. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxxi. 315 Þei schewed me a boke, þat my boke was examynde by. 1526 Tindale 1 Cor. xi. 28 Let a man..examen him silfe and so let him eate of the breed and drynke of the cup. ― 1 Thess. v. 21 Examen all thynges and kepe that which is good. 1580 Baret Alv. E 398 Doe you not examine or measure such thinges as be done at Lacedemon, according to your lawes and ordinances. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 291 Nay mocke not..examine your conscience. 1611 Bible Ps. xxvi. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and proue me; try my reines and my heart. 1684 Abp. W. Wake Prep. for Death (1688) 26 We ought..before it be too late, to examine our Souls, and provide for futurity. 1690 J. Harrington Def. Rights Univ. Oxford Pref., Examined by the unequal standard of the immunities of mean corporations. |
† b. To try, investigate the guilt or innocence of (an accused person). Obs. Cf. 6.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) viii. 91 And there was oure Lord examyned in the nyght and scourged and smyten. a 1471 Chron. Rich. II to Hen. VI (Camden 1856) 10 Yf thou..were wel examned, thou hast do more ayens the kyng than I. 1526 Tindale Acts iv. 9 Yf we..are examined [so 1611] of the good dede done to the sycke man. |
3. To investigate by inspection or manipulation the nature, qualities, or condition of (any object); to inspect in detail, scan, scrutinize. Also in various specific uses: To check, verify in detail (a calculation, an account); to investigate by inspection or experiment the pathological condition of (an organ, a person, or animal); to subject to autopsy; to search, inspect (baggage, etc.) for contraband goods.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 248 Þei brouht þe cronykles..Þe old chartres & titles..Of ilk a bisshop se, & ilk a priourie..Examend þam & cast ilk amountment. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 205 From humeres he [Pictagoras] tornede hym to examyne strenges, and streyned guttes and senewes of schepe. 1476 Proclam. 3 Apr. in York Myst. Introd. 37 To serche, here, and examen all þe plaiers and plaies and pagentes. 1580 Baret Alv. E 397 To discusse and examine diligently the account and reckoning of the souldiers. 1595 Shakes. John i. i. 89 Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And findes them perfect Richard. 1644 Milton Areop. (Arb.) 50 It will ask..the work of twenty licencers to examin all the lutes, the violins, and the ghittarrs in every house. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 77 The Watch-men..stand in the Street by the Watch-houses, to examin every one that passeth by. 1742 Pope Dunc. iv. 234 The critic Eye..Sees hairs and pores, examines bit by bit. 1776 Trial of Nundocomar 23 Doss examined the books, and found the following entry. 1781–3 Cowper Poet, Oyster, etc. 33 Many a grave and learned clerk, With curious touch examines me, If I can feel as well as he. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xix, Let the chirurgeon, Dwining examine that poor piece of clay, that he may tell us how he came by his fatal death. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xi. 73 Our guide had examined the glacier for some distance. 1876 Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. iv. 154 The visitors..met to examine the Latin versions. 1879 G. C. Harlan Eyesight v. 64 Of a large number of men examined in Europe..four or five per cent. have been found color-blind. |
| absol. a 1822 Shelley Allegory ii, Many passed it by with careless tread..But others..Pause to examine. |
4. To inquire or search into, investigate (a question or subject); to consider or discuss critically; to try the truth or falsehood of (a proposition, statement, etc.).
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. i. 34 The kyng byholdynge and diligently examyninge the thing, made a temple to hym. c 1490 Plumpton Corr. (Camd. Soc.) 76 The cause wherof..hath bene..shewed unto you; and..I desire and pray you reply to exammæn it. 1538 Starkey England i. ii. 28 Thys thyng of Socrates semyth to me somewhat straunge..let vs a lytyl examyn thys. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iv. i. 69 If you would take the paines but to examine the Warres of Pompey the Great. 1678 R. L'Estrange Seneca's Mor. (1702) 102 It Examins all the Circumstances of Time. 1704 Addison Italy Pref., Few Men..have Talents or Opportunities for examining so copious a Subject. 1785 Reid Int. Powers ii. ix. (1803) I. 235 We shall examine this theory afterwards. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 221 The plea which we are examining..would have to be expressed in this way. |
| absol. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. Democr. (1676) 43/2 At the first sight all is well, but farther examine, you shall find them wise on the one side, and fools on the other. |
b. with indirect question as obj.: To inquire, try to ascertain.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 9618 Prestes shulde..examyne what she [the midwife] couthe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 10 God proueth vs, what we be, and..examyneth how moche we profyte in grace. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. viii. (1611) 22 Men will not bend their wits to examine whether things..be good or euill. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. v. (1843) 204/2 It was time to examin how he had lost those Priviledges. 1785 Reid Int. Powers ii. viii. (1803) I. 195 To examine whether there might not be other first principles. |
5. To test (a person) by questioning; esp. to interrogate in order to test the capacity or knowledge of (a pupil, a candidate for a certificate, degree, official employment, etc.). Const. in, † of, on, upon.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 40 Ȝif ony wille..comen to oure breþeren..late þe mynystris diligently examyne hem of þe comun feiþ and þe sacramentis of holy chirche. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. iii. 16 Examine them in syllables of three letters, after in moe. 1715 Prideaux Reform. Univ. liii. in Life 235 Such only, as shall obtain a certificate of approbation from the two Examiners who examined them, shall be qualified for the said Degree. 1730 Burgh Rec. Dingwall 30 Nov., in Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. vi. (1876) 221 The particular passages upon which he was examined. |
| a 1838 Ld. Eldon in H. Twiss Life I. 57, I was examined in Hebrew and History. 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. vi. 251 At the end of the time the poor wretches were examined..on all these subjects. |
| absol. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. xxviii. 283 The Visitours..who are not satisfied, to examine where, and as they please. 1863 Royal Charter §38 in Lond. Univ. Calendar (1866) 33 The said Chancellor..shall have power to examine for..the several..Degrees. |
† b. To put questions on (what has been learned).
| 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. vii. 79 Especially examine those Verbs often, which haue two Preterperfect tenses. Ibid. 80 In examining the Syntax, it is the best to do it in Latine. |
6. To interrogate formally, question (esp. a witness, an accused person).
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 438 Ȝif alle bisshopis..and freris weren wislyche examyned wheþer þey weren heretikis. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. viii. xxiv. 54 The dravere he gert and oþir ma Swa be examynyd, þat etc. 1533 Ld. Derby in Ellis Orig. Lett. i. 115 II. 43 William Dalton squyer examyned..deposith and saith. 1549 Compl. Scotl. xii. 98 Quhen thir ten hyrdis var exemnit..quhar the samnete armye vas campit. c 1590 Marlowe Faustus (Bullen) vi. 113 Now, Faustus, examine them of their several names and dispositions. 1673 Essex Papers (1890) 90 There were no questions..asked but..what they who were examined knew concerning Mr. Peter Talbott's exercising of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction. 1779 J. Harris in Lett. 1st Earl Malmesbury (1870) I. 410 Sir Guy Carlton was four hours being examined at the Bar of the House. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 429 The usage had always been, upon a common recovery against husband and wife, to examine the wife. 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 101/2 If a plaintiff consents to be examined as a witness his evidence may be admitted. |
† b. To interrogate under torture. Cf. question.
| 1580 Baret Alv. E 395 To take awaie violently, and examine by torments. 1611 Bible Acts xxii. 24 The chiefe captaine..bad that hee [Paul] should be examined by scourging. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. iv. 274 The Tormentors examined him all the while, and to no Purpose. |
7. intr. † a. To look carefully, ‘see to it’ that. etc. (rare). b. To make examination, inquire into.
| 1712 Steele Spect. No. 426 ¶2 To examine that no one over-heard them. a 1764 Lloyd Dial. betw. Author & Friend, Read their works, examine fair—Show me invention, fancy there. 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 46/1 Authority is given to the court..to examine in a summary manner into any offence. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 90 To examine into the charges. 1869 M. Arnold Cult. & An. (1882) 223 That is, to examine into the nature of real good. |
Hence eˈxamined ppl. a.
| 1817 Selwyn Law Nisi Prius II. 722 To be prepared with an examined copy of the writ. 1861 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. s.v., In..English law, an examined copy of a deed..is a copy..examined and certified by the proper officer. |