scru·ti·ny

[skroot-n-ee]
noun, plural scru·ti·nies.
1.
a searching examination or investigation; minute inquiry.
2.
surveillance; close and continuous watching or guarding.
3.
a close and searching look.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin scrūtinium the action of searching, of scrutinizing, derivative of scrūtārī to search

non·scru·ti·ny, noun, plural non·scru·ti·nies.
re·scru·ti·ny, noun, plural re·scru·ti·nies.
self-scru·ti·ny, noun


1. See examination.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To scrutiny
00:10
Scrutiny is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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World English Dictionary
scrutiny (ˈskruːtɪnɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -nies
1.  close or minute examination
2.  a searching look
3.  a.  (in the early Christian Church) a formal testing that catechumens had to undergo before being baptized
 b.  a similar examination of candidates for holy orders
 
[C15: from Late Latin scrūtinium an investigation, from scrūtārī to search (originally referring to rag-and-bone men), from scrūta rubbish]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

scrutiny
early 15c., "a vote to choose someone to decide a question," from L.L. scrutinium "a search, inquiry," from L. scrutari "to examine, search" (as through trash), from scruta (pl.) "trash, rags" (see shred). Meaning "close examination" first recorded c.1600.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Many cases, when subjected to close scrutiny, prove not to have been remissions
  at all.
Only close scrutiny by investors can provide the kinds of discipline needed to
  ensure the bank's long-term success.
Recently the dog sled sport and tourism activity has been under a lot of
  scrutiny.
What's more, this line of thinking goes, such scrutiny and public shaming could
  have a chilling effect on experimental science.
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