perscrutate

Either a back-formation from perscrutation, or directly from Latin perscrūtātus, perfect passive participle of perscrūtor (“to search”). Earliest known use is from 1663 (see quotations).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pəːˈskruː.teɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɚˈskruˌteɪt/
• Rhymes: -uːteɪt

perscrutate (third-person singular simple present perscrutates, present participle perscrutating, simple past and past participle perscrutated)

1. (rare, transitive) To scrutinize, peruse, inspect (something). [from mid-17th c.]
   • 1663, Edward Waterhous [i.e. Edward Waterhouse], chapter III, in Forteſcutus Illuſtratus, or A Commentary On that Nervous Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ, London:  […] Tho. Roycroft for Thomas Dicas, page 54:

     For though in the Laws of nature ard men, there is myſterious abſtruſity, which toils and troubles the Learners brain, in perſcrutating and underſtanding them; the effects whereof are viſible in the moroſity and ſeparation of their Students, from the pleaſures of converſation and diverſion; yet are the events and iſſues in comprehenſion of them to ſuch degrees,as are conſectaries and rewards of double diligence, very grateful, and perceptively congenial to the expectation of thoſe excellent minds, who after buſie diſquiſition into them, reap dulcedinem conſolationis ſanctæ.

   • 1689, R.W. D.D. [i.e., Robert Wild], “Act the Fourth”, in The Benefice. A Comedy., London:  […] R. Janeway, page 40:

     But if you pleaſe, with your perſpicuous Luminaries to contemplate and perſcrutate theſe Teſtifications, you ſhall be animadverted of my Deportment in the Oxfordian Society, in my modification for Literature.

   • 1900 December, Andrew Lang, “Max Mueller”, in The Contemporary Review, volume 78, page 791:

     But as long as he held that myth was a by-product of language, Mr. Max Müller seemed to think that, till we had all savage languages perscrutated by new Bopps and Kuhns, we could not move.

   • 1958 December 11, Frederick R. Kappel, “What Should Be Role of Industry in Public Affairs?”, in The Commercial and Financial Chronicle, volume 188, number 5802, page 14:

     Prominent utility head perscrutates four important factors bearing on our economic health and, in cautioning against the entry of business, per se, into politics, suggests four things business can do in realm of public affairs and understanding.

   • 1994, Tibor Fischer, The Thought Gang, United States: The New Press, →ISBN, page 25:

     I perscrutated the engine, awaiting a celestial voice to chip in and guide me through the problems. It was off duty.

• “perscrutate, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

perscrutate

1. inflection of perscrutare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

perscrutate f pl

1. feminine plural of perscrutato

perscrūtāte

1. vocative masculine singular of perscrūtātus