double-check
UK[ˌdʌb.əlˈtʃek]US[ˌdʌb.əlˈtʃek]
v
To check or verify something a second time or with extra care to ensure accuracy.
n
An instance of verifying something a second time or with extra care.
Morpheme Breakdown
double
check
double
twofold
check
examine
Etymology
The word "double-check" is a modern English compound formed from two distinct roots. "Double" originates from the Latin duplus, meaning "twofold," which entered English via Old French. "Check" has a more complex journey, stemming from the Persian word for king (shāh), entering European languages through chess terminology to signify a stopping or controlling action, eventually evolving to mean "to verify." The compound "double-check" logically combines these ideas: to perform the act of verification ("check") a second time or in a twofold manner ("double") for added security and accuracy, reflecting a methodical approach to error prevention.
Analysis
Structure: double (twofold) + check (examine)
- double: From Latin duplus (twofold, double). In this compound, it functions as an intensifier meaning "a second time" or "in duplicate."
- check: From Old French eschec, via Persian shāh (king) and Arabic, originally in the context of chess. It functions as the core verb meaning "to examine or verify."
Examples
Always double-check your calculations before submitting the financial report.
As a safety procedure, the pilot performed a final double-check of the instrument readings.
The editor's double-check caught several typos that the first proofread had missed.