audit (adit)

[L. audit us, a hearing, With his Orisons I meddle not, for hee appeals to a high Audit . Milton , Eikon ok las tes, v. Whoso seeks an audit here Propitious, pays his tribute, game or fish. Cowper, Task, iv. 610. 2. Official examination and verification of accounts or claims; an examination into accounts or dealings with money or property; especially, an examination of accounts by proper officers, or persons appointed for that purpose, who compare the charges with the vouchers, examine witne es, and state the result. The rule of insisting on a proper audit of account was a corollary from the practice of appropriating the supplies to particular purposes. Stubbs , Const. Hist., § 694. Hence-3. A calling to account; an examination into one's actions. You must prepare against to-morrow for your last suffering here, and your great audit hereafter. Scott . 4. An account or a statement of account; a balance-sheet. And, how his audit stands, who knows, save heaven? Shak., Hamlet, iii. 3. 5t. A periodical auditing or settlement of accounts; hence, receipts; revenues. I knew a nobleman in England that had the greatest audits of any man in my time: a great grazier, a great apartment for an audience or a formal meeting. audience-court (a'di-ens-kōrt), n. An ecclesiastical court, now disused, held by the archbishops of Canterbury and York or by auditors in their behalf. That held by the Archbishop of Can terbury had equal authority with the Court of Arches, though of le dignity, and is now merged in it. audiencia (Sp. pron. ou-de-en-the'ä), n. [Sp.] See audience, 5. audiendo et term in an do (a-di-en'dō et ter-min an'do). [ML., for hearing and deciding; dat. ger. of L. audire, hear (see audient ), and of term i nare, end, decide (see terminate ). Cf. oyer and Commi ioners of audit, formerly called auditors of the Exchequer, in England, officers appointed to call on all public accountants to account for money or stores intrusted to them, and to check the accounts of the ordnance, army, and navy, and the land-revenue. The establishment consists of a chairman and five commi ioners, a secretary, and numerous subordinates. audit (a'dit), v. [ In 1406 the commons, who objected to making a grant until the accounts of the last grant were audited , were told by Henry that kings do not render accounts. Stubbs , Const. Hist., § 694. IMG:content-1392.png:[blocks in formation] Observing from the goose on the table and the audit ale which was circling in the loving-cup that it was a feast. Farrar. audit a querela (a-dīta kwe-re'lä). [L. (NL.), the complaint having been heard: audit a, fem. of audit us, pp. of audire, hear; querela, complaint: see audient and quarrell.] In law, a form of action in which the judgment debtor strives to recall or prevent execution on a judgment to which he claims a valid defense; the writ by which such action is begun. [Now generally superseded.]