audit

[Lat. audit us = a hearing.] 1. The examination of an account by persons appointed to test its accuracy, by comparing each item with vouchers, adding up each page, and at last authoritatively stating the sum owing or at credit. (Used literally or figuratively.) "Yet I can make my audit up, that all From me do back receive the flour of all, And leave me but the bran.' Shakesp.: Coriolanus, L. L. "To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span, To keep your earthly audi '." Ibid. King Henry VIII ., iii. 2. 2. The account as thus tested and verified. (Used lit. or fig . ) "He took my father gro ly, full of bread, With all his crimes broad blown, and flush as May: And how his audit stands who knows save heavn? Shakesp.: Hamlet , iii. 3. audit-house, s . A house appendant to most cathedrals, and designed for the transaction of busine connected with them. "The church of Canterbury (till within this two or three years) had the morning-prayers at seven or eight of the clock in the morning; the sermon at ten in the audit -house and then the rest of the communion-service, and the communion, in the choir."Sir G. Wheler: Ace. of Churches , p. 115. audit-office, s. The office in which the public accounts of the empire are audited. âu'-dit, v.t. & i. [AUDIT, 8.] A. Transitive : Carefully to examine (the account of another person), and formally and authoritatively certify to (its) accuracy. "Bishops ordinaries, auditing all accounts, take twelve pence."- Ayliffe: Purergon. B. Intransitive: To ascertain and certify the accuracy of an account. "I love exact dealing, and let Hocus audit ; he knows how the money was disbursed."-Arbuthnot.