inspect

/ˌɪnsˈpekt/in-SPEKT

/ˌɪnsˈpɛkt/in-SPEKT

Meaningto look into

Common meaning: to look at closely to check condition

inin, into; (before adjectives) not
spectto look at, watchLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1737 · scan

‘in, into’ + ‘to look at, watch’ → inspect

Journey through time

Latinspeciō (spiciō), spexī, spectum‘to look at, watch’
Englishinspect‘to look at closely to check condition’ · today

in- also in: incest incite induce infamy infant

spect also in: spectacle spectator respect specimen despicable

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin speciō (spiciō) ‘to look at, watch’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry speciō (spiciō), p. 1737 · dictionary scan

Roots

speciō (spiciō), spexī, spectum Latin “to look at, watch”

Related words

despicable disrespect respect specimen spectacle spectator

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