examiner

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɛɡ.za.mi.ne/^[1]

Forms

examiner^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin exāminō (“to weigh; to examine”), a derivative of exāmen, which meant “the tongue of a balance”, hence “weighing, examination”.^[2][3][4] The same Latin noun, in its other sense “swarm”, gave essaim.^[3] Cognate with Old Occitan examinar, Spanish examinar and Italian esaminare.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Vie de saint François (about 1240) uses it for observing and considering attentively;^[2] the GLLF finds it about 1200 in the Rule of Saint Benedict in the sense “to question”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In the 13th century Beaumanoir uses it for questioning witnesses, and Anglo-Norman texts from 1260 for investigating and interrogating.^[5][7] Calvin compares faith tested by trouble to gold examiné en la fournaise.^[5] Amyot, in the middle of the 16th century, uses it for studying something under every aspect, the main modern sense.^[6] Furetière in 1690 records the sense “to put a candidate through an examination”, and the medical sense, to examine a patient, dates from the early 20th century.^[6] It was also used for “to think, reflect”, a sense now lost in the absolute construction.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – “To question”, in the Rule of Saint Benedict.^[6]
• c. 1240 – “To observe attentively”, in the Vie de saint François.^[2]
• Mid-16th century – “To study in detail”, in Amyot.^[6]
• 1690 – “To examine a candidate”, in Furetière.^[6]
• Early 20th century – The medical sense.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. To consider carefully, study: examiner le pour et le contre, examiner une affaire en comité.^[8][9]
2. To look at closely, inspect.^[8][6]
3. (medicine) To give a medical examination to.^[6][8]
4. To examine a candidate.^[6][5]
5. S'examiner: to examine one's own conscience; to look at each other.^[5]

Related words

• examen
• examinateur
• essaim
• Latin exāmen
• English examine

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)