searce, serce

[Fr. sas.] A sieve, a bolter. ( Prov. Eng.) IMG:content-1124.png:[blocks in formation] 1. To go over and examine; to explore; to look over or around for the purpose of inspection or of finding something. 2. To look through or into; to examine into; to scrutinize; as, to search a house, to search a book. 3. To inquire after; to seek after or for. 4. To examine or try with an instrument; to probe; as, to search a wound. *5. To examine, to try; to put to the test. "Thou hast searched me out and known me."- Psalm IMG:content-1125.png:[blocks in formation] 1. To make search, to seek, to look, to examine. (Shakesp.: Merry Wives, iii. 3. ) 2. To inquire; to make inquiry. To search out : To find out by seeking or inquiring; to seek till found. ( Deut . i. 33.) search, *serche, subst . [SEARCH, v.] The act of searching for or after anything; the act of seeking, looking, or inquiring for something; pursuit for finding; exploration, inquiry, quest, pursuit, exam in at i on. "He was in search of plants."-Cook: First Voyage, bk. iii., ch. xiii. (1) Right of search: Mar. Law : The right of belligerent nations to authorize the commanders of their lawfully commi ioned cruisers to board private merchant ve els of other nations met with on the high seas, for the purpose of examining their papers and cargo, and of searching for enemy's property, articles contraband of war, . [CONTRABAND, a., [.] (2) Search of encumbrances : Law : The inquiry made in the special legal reg is. ters by a purchaser or mortgagee of lands as to the burdens and state of the title, in order to discover whether hs purchase or investment is safe. search-light, s . [SEARCHLIGHT.] search-warrant, s. Law : A warrant granted by a justice of the peace to enter the premises of a person suspected of secreting stolen goods, in order to discover and seize the goods if found. Similar warrants are granted to search for property or articles in respect of which other offenses are committed, as base coin, coiners' tools, arms, gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, liquors, ., kept contrary to law. search-a-ble, a . [ Eng.search , v.;- able .] Capable of being searched or explored. ( Cotgrave .) search-a-ble-ne , s. [Eng. searchable ; -ne .] The quality or state of being searchable. search-er, s. [ Eng.search , v.; -er.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. Gen.: One who or that which searches, examines, explores, or inquires for the purpose of find. ing something, obtaining information, or the like; a seeker, an inquirer, an explorer, an examiner. "The unerring searcher of our hearts."- Secker : Ser mons, vol. i., ser. 13. 2. Specifically : *(1) A person formerly appointed in England to examine the bodies of the dead, and report the causes of their deaths. "The searchers, who are ancient matrons sworn to their office, repair to the place where the dead corpse lies, and by view of the same, and by other inquiries, examine by what disease the corpse died."-Graunt: Bills of Mortality. (2) An officer of the customs, whose office is to search or rummage ships, baggage, goods, ., to ascertain if they contain anything liable to duty. (3) A prison official who searches the clothing of persons newly arrested, and takes po e ion for the time of the articles found on them. *(4) A civil officer appointed in some Scotch towns to apprehend idlers on the streets during church hours on the Sabbath. (5) An inspector of leather. ( Prov. Eng.) (6) A probe for examining a horse's hoof. (7) An instrument used in the inspection of butter, ., to ascertain the quality of that contained in firkils, . pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, searcher e Π. Technically : 1. Ordn.: An instrument used for examining the bore of a gun. It is attached to a staff, and has steel points pre ed outward by springs, so as to enter cavities, if any exist, when pushed in and drawn out and turned around in the bore. 2. Surg .: A Lithotomy-sound (q. v.). search'-ing, pr. par. & a. [SEARCH, 2.] A. As pr. par .: (See the verb.) B. As adjective : 1. Looking or seeking into; examining, explor ing, inquiring, investigating; making search or in quiry. 2. Penetrating, sharp, trying, keen. 3. Minute. close; as, a searching inquiry. search-ing-ly, adv . [English searching ; -ly .] In a searching manner; closely, minutely.