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, 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. Maundev. (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. Ibid., 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. Shaks., 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 (1687), 26. We ought to hasten all we can, before it be too late, to examine our Souls, and provide for futurity.
1690. J. Harrington, Def. Rights Univ. Oxf., Pref. Examin’d 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. Maundev. (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 April, 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. Shaks., 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. 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. 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. Shaks., 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.
1705. 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), I. 204/2. It was time to examine 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. in M. Pattison, Academ. Org., vi. 250–1. At the end of the time the poor wretches were examined, all at once, on all these subjects.
absol. 1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., xxviii. 283. The Visitours and others, 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 doe 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. Earl 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 … bade 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 Examined ppl. a.
1817. W. 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.
