Literary notes about Examine (AI summary)
The term "examine" is used by authors to signal a close, often methodical inspection that can be both literal and metaphorical. In narrative contexts, it often denotes the act of carefully scrutinizing an object, event, or even one's own thoughts—as when a detective inspects clues during an investigation [1, 2] or a character ponderously reflects on personal experience [3, 4]. In more abstract or historical writings, the word invites readers to look beyond surface appearances, probing into cultural practices, governmental functions, or philosophical ideas [5, 6, 7]. Even in poetic or dramatic settings, "examine" becomes a call for introspection and clarity, linking physical observation with intellectual inquiry [8, 9].
- “Having got so far, my next step was, of course, to examine into the details of the crime, and to see how far they would help us.
— from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop.”
— from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - I think this is a peculiar case—I must at least examine into it.
— from Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë - I pray thee, yet be satisfi'd; Examine thine own frailty; 'tis more easy To tie knots than unloose them.
— from The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster - We have only to examine a list of these bureaus to see how many-sided is the work which the government is performing.
— from A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows - The connection of this with the only ethical basis that can stand an adequate test we shall examine further on.
— from The Basis of Morality by Arthur Schopenhauer - I therefore set myself to examine methodically the relation of Interest and Duty.
— from The Methods of Ethics by Henry Sidgwick - Indeed, anybody who cares to examine the age of Shakespeare will see that archæology was one of its special characteristics.
— from Intentions by Oscar Wilde - And yet, how many of our present pleasures, were we to examine them closely, would shrink into nothing more than memories of past ones!
— from Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson
