inspection English · revision 7475

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1390|origins=la inspicio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈspɛkʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English inspecioun, [[bor|fro|inspeccion|t=inspection, examination]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from Latin [[m|la|inspectio|t=a looking into]], from the past participle stem of [[m|la|inspicio|alt=inspicere|t=to look into, examine]] (see [[inspect]]),^(Etymonline) from in-, into, and specere, to look, from PIE [[ine-pro|*spek-|t=to observe]].^(Etymonline) Old English had onbesceawung as a loan translation of Latin inspectio.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Careful examination, looking narrowly into: 1390 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sight or spectacle (about 1430) and insight or perception (about 1500) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989) A plan of a piece of ground that has been inspected is from 1694,^(OED 1989) and a district under an inspector from 1888.^(OED 1989) Official examination, as of troops, is a later specialized sense.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1390 – careful examination.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – a sight (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – insight (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1694 – a plan of inspected ground.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – an inspector's district.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[inspect|alt=inspecting]]; careful [[examination]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # An official examination or review, as of [[troop|alt=troops]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inspectional]]

+ * [[preinspection]]

+ * [[reinspection]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[inspect]]

+ * [[inspector]]

+ * [[spectacle]]

+ * [[aspect]]

+ * [[respect]]

+ * [[suspect]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}