inspectorn.
/ɪnˈspɛktə/, U.S. /ᵻnˈspɛktər/ 1. attributive.1878 F. S. Williams Midland Railway (ed. 4) 624 There are a number of..inspector guards, one of whom is selected to take charge of every excursion train, a duty involving special responsibilities and care.1898 Daily News 30 July 3/1 The lesson to be drawn from the recent cases both of phosphorus and lead poisoning is..that the inspector system has broken down.
a. One who inspects or looks carefully at or into; an overseer, a superintendent; spec. an officer appointed to examine into, and supervise or report upon, the working of some department or institution in which numerous persons are employed, or the due observance of certain laws and regulations, as inspector of schools, inspector of weights and measures, inspector of factories, inspector of mines, inspector of explosives, inspector of public nuisances, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > person in control > [adjective] > of or relating to inspector
inspector1602
inspectorial1753
inspectoral1864
society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > superintendent > inspector
inspector1602
society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > [noun] > inspector
searcher1432
veedor1589
inspector1602
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > inspection, survey > [noun] > formal or official > person conducting
viewer1415
searcher1432
vesiar?a1500
vesiater1517
looker1552
vissier1566
inspector1602
sighter1708
roundsman1837
snooper1928
1602 F. Herring Discov. Stratagems in tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 78 The Eternall, as a carefull Inspector and sincere Judge of them.
1660 J. Milton Readie Way Free Commonw. (ed. 2) 44 They..must raise and manage the public revenue, at least with som inspectors deputed for satisfaction of the people, how it is imploid.
1734 Visct. Bolingbroke Let. to Swift 15 Sept. in J. Swift Wks. (1841) II. 725 I wrote to you a long letter some time ago..did the inspectors of private correspondence stop it?
1791 J. Bentham Panopticon i. Postscr. 93 An Inspector in his way to the prisoners' Stair-case from the Inspection-Gallery.
1802 A. Hamilton in N.Y. Evening Post 19 Jan. 2/5 When the excise on distilled spirits was established, three different descriptions of officers were instituted..Supervisors, Inspectors, and Collectors.
1898 Hazell's Ann. 208/2 Occasional unannounced visits of the inspector, in lieu of the annual examination.
b. One who looks into something for information, from curiosity, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > inspector or scrutinizer
scanner1557
inspectator1593
scrutator1593
inspector1667
scrutinizer1728
1667 S. Pepys Diary 24 Apr. (1974) VIII. 179 A severer inspector into his own business and accounts.
1670 A. Marvell Let. 8 Nov. in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 113 I..must in exchange desire you will not admit many inspectors into my letters.
1774 J. Walker Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Advt. If the inspector should not meet with sufficient information in the Dictionary under the word, let him consult the Principles under the vowel, diphthong, or consonant, he wishes to be explained.
c. An officer of police ranking next below a superintendent and above a sergeant.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > policeman of specific rank
superintendent1789
police inspector1824
police sergeant1824
sergeant1839
inspector1840
station sergeant1846
detective-sergeant1850
detective-inspector1898
desk sergeant1908
sarge1926
skipper1929
supe1977
1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 335/2 The number of men of each rank serving in the metropolitan police force, in January, 1840, was as follows:—..73 Inspectors.
1898 Hazell's Ann. 529/1 The total strength of the [City of London police] force is 928, consisting of 3 chief inspectors, 15 district inspectors, 22 station inspectors, 12 detective inspectors, 72 sergeants [etc.].
2. Ancient Greek History. Used as a translation of Greek ἐπόπτης, a person fully initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries; = epopt n.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > mysticism > a mystery > [noun] > initiation into > initiate > one initiated into Eleusinian mysteries
epoptista1652
epopt1696
inspector1818
1818 R. P. Knight Anc. Art & Mythol. §10. 6 These doctrines were conveyed under allegories and symbols; and..the completely initiated were called inspectors.
3. inspector-general n. an officer at the head of a system of inspection, having under him a body of inspectors; a superintendent of a system of inspection.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > superintendent > inspector > chief
inspector-general1702
society > authority > office > holder of office > public officials > senior or chief public officials > [noun] > inspector-general
inspector-general1702
1702 London Gaz. No. 3841/3 Monsieur Puissegure, Inspector-General of their Foot.
1813 Duke of Wellington Let. 4 Oct. in Dispatches (1838) XI. 159 The inspector general of the infantry fell from his horse.
1859 Regulations for Musketry Instr. Army 98 The Inspector General of Musketry, being held responsible that the rifle training is conducted efficiently and according to regulation.
1898 Hazell's Ann. 530/2 The principal officer of the [Irish] Constabulary is the Inspector-General, resident in Dublin, and who is assisted by a Deputy Inspector-General and three Assistant Inspectors-General.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1602