Scrutiny

Definition of Scrutiny. Careful examination of something or someone. Examples of Scrutiny in a sentence. If you want to fly on an airplane, you should be prepared to deal with scrutiny from the airline personnel. My nosey neighbor, a former police officer, keeps everyone under scrutiny. After a searching scrutiny, the animal trotted forward a few steps. (White Fang, by Jack London) I saw a double meaning, then, in Mr. Wickfield's scrutiny of me. (David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens) A scholarly process that subjects an author's work or ideas to the scrutiny of one or more others who are experts in the field.

(Latin scrutinium from scrutari to search, to investigate)

A term variously employed in canon law.

(1) In promotion to orders a scrutiny or examination of the candidate is to be made according to the warning of the Apostle: 'Impose not hands lightly upon any man' (1 Timothy 5:22). That the practice is ancient is testified to by St. Cyprian (who died in 258) in his thirty-eighth epistle. The ninth canon of the Council of Nicæa (325) supposes the scrutiny of candidates to be already in use. Many later synods enforced and defined more exactly this scrutiny of those who aspired to orders. The present discipline is laid down by the Council of Trent (Sess. XXIII, Cap. v, de ref.), though its observance in every detail has not been reduced to practice in all countries. A three-fold scrutiny is ordered: first, through the inquiry into the qualities of the candidates by the parishpriest and teachers and by public proclamation in the Church. The information thus obtained is to be embodied in a testimonial letter to the bishop. Secondly, shortly before ordination through the bishop himself and ecclesiastical persons appointed to examine into the morals, faith, and doctrine of the candidates. Thirdly, through the ceremonial form prescribed by the Pontificale Romanum for the ordination of a deacon or priest.

(2) Scrutiny is also a form of ecclesiastical election and is made either by written ballot or by pronouncing the chosen name before legitimate scrutators alone. It is the usual form for electing the pope.

(3) Scrutiny is also the term for the examination of catechumens before baptism. In ancient times there were three such scrutinies and later on the number was increased to seven. From the Middle Ages onwards owing to the fact that most who received baptism were infants the prescribed scrutinies were reduced to that now found in the ritual for conferring baptism. The subject-matter of these scrutinies was the faith and dispositions of the candidate.

About this page

APA citation.Fanning, W.(1912).Scrutiny. In The Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13641a.htm

MLA citation.Fanning, William.'Scrutiny.'The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 13.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1912.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13641a.htm>.

Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Douglas J. Potter.Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.

Dictionary entry details

• SCRUTINY(noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

examination; scrutiny

Hypernyms ('scrutiny' is a kind of...):

investigating; investigation (the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of 'scrutiny'):

endoscopy (visual examination of the interior of a hollow body organ by use of an endoscope)

bank examination (an examination of the affairs and records of a bank by a state or federal bank examiner)

inspection; review (a formal or official examination)

motion study; time-and-motion study; time-motion study; time and motion study; time study; work study (an analysis of a specific job in an effort to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort)

testing (an examination of the characteristics of something)

study; survey (a detailed critical inspection)

search (boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas)

scan (the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region)

rhinoscopy (examination of the nasal passages (either through the anterior nares or with a rhinoscope through the nasopharynx))

keratoscopy (examination of the cornea with a keratoscope to detect irregularities in its anterior surface)

gonioscopy (an examination of the front part of the eye to check the angle where the iris meets the cornea; it is used to distinguish between open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma)

Scrutiny Meaning

audit (a methodical examination or review of a condition or situation)

palpation; tactual exploration (a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size or shape or firmness or location of something (of body parts when the examiner is a health professional))

ophthalmoscopy (examination of the interior of an eye using an ophthalmoscope)

look-over; once-over (a swift cursory examination or inspection)

Scrutiny Thesaurus

going-over (a careful and thorough inspection)

follow-up; followup; reexamination; review (a subsequent examination of a patient for the purpose of monitoring earlier treatment)

fine-tooth comb; fine-toothed comb (a method of examining in minute detail)

comparing; comparison (the act of examining resemblances)

checkup; health check; medical; medical checkup; medical exam; medical examination (a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person)

autopsy; necropsy; PM; post-mortem; post-mortem examination; postmortem; postmortem examination (an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death or the changes produced by disease)

Derivation:

scrutineer (someone who examines votes at an election)

scrutinise (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)

scrutinise (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)

scrutinize (examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification)

scrutinize (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)

Sense 2