peruse
UK[pəˈruːz]US[pəˈruːz]
v
To read something carefully or thoroughly.
v
To examine or consider something with attention to detail.
Morpheme Breakdown
per
use
per
through
use
use
Etymology
The word 'peruse' entered English in the late 15th century from the Middle English perusen, which itself was an alteration of the Anglo-Norman peruser. This term is a compound of the Latin prefix per-, meaning "through" or "thoroughly", and the root related to "use". Its original, literal sense was "to use up" or "to go through thoroughly". Over time, this concrete meaning of thorough examination became specialized, applying most specifically to the act of reading text meticulously from beginning to end. The modern definition retains this core idea of careful, detailed scrutiny, though its application is now almost exclusively to reading or examining documents and information.
Analysis
Structure: per (through) + use (use)
- per: A Latin preposition meaning "through", "thoroughly", or "completely". It functions as an intensifying prefix.
- use: From Latin uti ("to use"), via Old French user. It functions as the core root indicating the act of employing or applying something.
Examples
She took a moment to peruse the contract before signing it.
I like to peruse the newspaper with my morning coffee.
The committee will peruse the proposals and select the best one next week.