peruse
verb
- examine idly, skim
- read very carefully
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /pəˈɹuːz/
noun
Etymology: From either Medieval Latin perūtor, perūsitō (“wear out”) or Anglo-Norman peruser (“use up”), originally leading to two concurrent meanings, but only those derived from "to examine" survive today. By surface analysis, per- + use.
- An examination or perusal; an instance of perusing.
“A peruse of the website looked promising […]”
verb
Etymology: From either Medieval Latin perūtor, perūsitō (“wear out”) or Anglo-Norman peruser (“use up”), originally leading to two concurrent meanings, but only those derived from "to examine" survive today. By surface analysis, per- + use.
- To examine or consider with care.
“Sitting on a low stool, a few yards from her arm-chair, I examined her figure; I perused her features.”
- To read completely.
“This survey may be made by perusing al Books and taking notice of all Mechanicall Inventions.”
“We are for reasons that, after perusing this manuscript, you may be able to guess, going away again this time to Central Asia […]”
- To look over casually; to skim.
“Haynes quickly perused the message, then took it to the captain on the bridge.”
“She asked Denise for the court file, which she fussed from her handbag. The woman perused it briefly and then beamed up at me.”
- To go from place to place; to wander.
“I loved to straggle off in the mornings […], just perusing around for firewood.”