WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ex*am`i*na"tion
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. examinatio: cf. F. examination.]
Definition : 1. The act of examining, or state of being examined; a careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by study or experiment.

2. A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry. He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the examinations. Macaulay. Examination in chief, or Direct examination (Law), that examination which is made of a witness by a party calling him. -- Cross-examination, that made by the opposite party. -- Re?xamination, or Re-direct examination, that made by a party calling a witness, after, and upon matters arising out of, the cross- examination.

Syn. -- Search; inquiry; investigation; research; scrutiny; inquisition; inspection; exploration.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913