scrutinize
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:57 am
I figured this word would have a more ancient lineage, but all I could find is that it came from"scrutine" in the 1590s directly from French.
Here's what etymonline has to say on the matter:
early 15c., "a vote to choose someone to decide a question," from Late Latin scrutinium "a search, inquiry" (in Medieval Latin, "a mode of election by ballot"), from Latin scrutari "to examine, investigate, search," from PIE root *skreu- "to cut; cutting tool" (see shred (n.)). Meaning "close examination" first recorded c. 1600. Perhaps the original notion of the Latin word is "to search through trash," via scruta (plural) "trash, rags" ("shreds"); or the original sense might be "to cut into, scratch."
Rather topical these days, what with the scrutiny of election results and all. Especially given the Medieval Latin meaning.