Scrutiny

Scrutiny, skrōō′ti-ni, n. careful or minute inquiry: critical examination: an examination of the votes given at an election for the purpose of correcting the poll: in the early Church, the examination in Lent of the Catechumens: (R.C.) one of the methods of electing a pope, the others being acclamation and accession.—adj. Scru′table.—ns. Scrutā′tion, scrutiny; Scrutā′tor, a close examiner.—v.t.. Scru′tinate, to examine: to investigate.—n. Scrutineer′, one who makes a scrutiny, or minute search or inquiry.—v.t.. Scru′tinise, to search minutely or closely: to examine carefully or critically: to investigate.—n. Scru′tiniser.—adj. Scru′tinous.—adv. Scru′tinously.—Scrutin-de-liste, a method of voting for the French Chamber of Deputies, in which the voter casts his ballot for the whole number of deputies allotted to his department, choosing the candidates in any combination he pleases—opp. to Scrutin d'arrondissement, in which method the voter votes only for his local candidate or candidates, the arrondissement being the basis of representation. [O. Fr. scrutine—L. scrutinium—scrutāri, to search even to the rags—scruta, rags, trash.]