From Middle English scrutiny, from Medieval Latin scrūtinium, from Vulgar Latin scrūtor, from Late Latin scrūta, from an extension of Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-.

• IPA: /ˈskɹuː.tɪ.ni/, /ˈskɹuːʔ.n̩.i/

scrutiny (uncountable)

1. Intense study of someone or something.
   • 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain'd. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC ↗, page 4 ↗:

     Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view / And narrower scrutiny.

   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC ↗, page 189 ↗:

     So much for the occupant of the britscha, who waits, as all the horses are out at a ball or a scrutiny.

2. Thorough inspection of a situation or a case.

   come under scrutiny

3. (Christianity) An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.
4. A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written.
5. An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll.

• examination
• exploration
• going-over (informal)
• inquiry
• inspection
• investigation
• perusal
• probe
• scan
• survey
• study

• German: genaue Untersuchung, genaue Beobachtung
• Italian: scrutinio, valutazione
• Portuguese: escrutínio
• Russian: тща́тельное иссле́дование
• Spanish: escrutinio, escudriño, escudriñamiento

• German: genaue Untersuchung, prüfender od. forschender Blick
• Italian: esame minuzioso
• Portuguese: escrutínio
• Russian: тща́тельная прове́рка

scrutiny (scrutinies, present participle scrutinying; simple past and past participle scrutinied)

1. (obsolete, rare) To scrutinize.