scrutinium

Forms

scrūtinium n (genitive scrūtiniī or scrūtinī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin scrūtor (“to search, examine”);^[2][1][3] the OLD calls the ending obscure.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Apuleius has it first,^[2][4] for a search: the magistrates decide to settle a stubborn denial by a search, and send in lictors to go over every corner.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Lewis & Short mark it as post-Classical; the Vulgate psalms use it of searching out,^[3][5] and Ammianus Marcellinus has the plural for searches of household goods.^[5] A gloss renders it with the Greek ζήτησις (zḗtēsis, “inquiry”).^[6]

In medieval Latin it meant research and examination, a search of premises, the examination of the candidates for baptism, and the collecting of votes in an election.^[7] In British sources it was also an inspection: of beasts on a pasture or of a monastery during a visitation.^[8] English borrowed it as scrutiny in the early 15th century, first of the formal counting of votes.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a search by lictors.^[2][4]
• c. 390 AD – Ammianus Marcellinus speaks of searches of household goods.^[5][4]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it in the Psalms.^[3][5][4]
• 1289 – An English plea roll records an annual scrutinium of the animals on a pasture.^[8]
• early 15th century – English borrows it as scrutiny, for the counting of votes.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. A search for something hidden, an examination of a place.^[2][10]
2. (Late Latin) An inquiry, investigation.^[3][6]
3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The examination of the candidates for baptism.^[7]
4. (Medieval Latin) The collecting of votes, a ballot.^[7][9]
5. (Medieval Latin) An inspection, visitation.^[8]

Related words

• scrūtor
• English scrutiny

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b Goetz, Georg (1888–1923), Corpus glossariorum Latinorum, Leipzig: Teubner; vols. VI–VII Thesaurus glossarum emendatarum, digital ed. CGLO, Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.