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perusal

perusal

5 6.7
An act of reading something carefully to understand or remember it
  • noun
  • /pəˈruːzəl/
  • Formal
translation icon : lectura
  • The counselor looked up at them after a brief perusal of their files.
  • a quick perusal

But to have them in the school library for perusal of children without the consent of their parents is not OK.

Examples

  • A quick perusal of a list of major drug-producing countries demonstrates a correlation with violent and longstanding conflict.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Of course, he has further entries awaiting our perusal, I am certain.

    Blog text (21)
  • I'll have the copies ready for your perusal.

  • Now, I ask that you accept their perusal as part of your deliberations.

  • I deduced this after a quick perusal of Cat in the Hat.

    Blog text (4)
  • On the next page are a variety of others' definitions for your perusal, presented in chronological order.

    Blog text (2)
  • Several aspects of a practice nurse's daily workload will spring to mind after a quick perusal of this list.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Kathryn's daily perusal of the New York Times on the train on her way to work gave her the impetus.

    Academic text (2005)
  • After a thorough perusal of the contract, she felt confident signing it.

  • The professor provided the students with a list of articles for their perusal before the next class.

Synonyms

scrutiny
vsperusal
168 5.5

A close, careful look at something to find mistakes or problems

is a careful reading focused on understanding not mainly on finding faults
examination
vsperusal
110 2.3

Careful study of something to find problems or details

is careful reading to understand or remember rather than error finding
scrutinization
vsperusal
  • US
7.2

A careful, close look at something to find small details

is careful reading aimed at understanding or remembering rather than intense inspection

Antonyms

100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

How Thorough

analysis
3.4
study
353 1.1
perusal
  • Formal
5 6.7
glance
222 1.4

Surface Forms

perusal singular
perusals plural

Morphology

perusal = peruse (transparent) = peruse + al

Derived regularly from the verb 'peruse' with the noun-forming suffix '-al', so the meaning 'act of reading/examining' follows directly.

Etymology

The word perusal comes from the verb peruse, made of the part per- meaning 'thoroughly' and the simple word use meaning 'to use'. So a perusal is a careful 'using' or close look at something, which is why it means reading or examining something carefully.