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n.; pl. Crutches [ OE. crucche, AS. crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. krücke, Dan. krykke, Sw. krycka, and to E. crook. See Crook, and cf. Cricket a low stool. ] 1. A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone. H. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) (a) A knee, or piece of knee timber. (b) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See Crotch. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To support on crutches; to prop up. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Supported upon crutches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ See Crouch, v. t., and Crouched, a. ] Marked with the sign of the cross; crouched. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crutched friar (Eccl.), one of a religious order, so called because its members bore the sign of the cross on their staves and habits; -- called also crossed friar and crouched friar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ W. crwth. ] (Mus.) See 4th Crowd. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. imperscrutabilis. ] Not capable of being searched out; inscrutable. [ Obs. ] -- Im`per*scru"ta*ble*ness, n. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

n. The quality or state of being inscrutable; inscrutableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inscrutabilis : cf. F. inscrutable. See In- not, and Scrutiny. ] Unsearchable; incapable of being searched into and understood by inquiry or study; impossible or difficult to be explained or accounted for satisfactorily; obscure; incomprehensible; as, an inscrutable design or event. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is not in man
To yield a reason for the will of Heaven
Which is inscrutable. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Waiving a question so inscrutable as this. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being inscrutable; inscrutability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inscrutable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. perscrutatio, fr. perscrutari to search through. ] A thorough searching; a minute inquiry or scrutiny. Carlyle [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Discoverable by scrutiny, inquiry, or critical examination. [ R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. scrutatio. ] Search; scrutiny. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] One who scrutinizes; a close examiner or inquirer. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F., voting by list. ] Voting for a group of candidates for the same kind of office on one ticket or ballot, containing a list of them; -- the method, used in France, as from June, 1885, to Feb., 1889, in elections for the Chamber of Deputies, each elector voting for the candidates for the whole department in which he lived, as disting. from
scrutin d'arrondissement or voting by each elector for the candidate or candidates for his own arrondissement only. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A scrutinizer; specifically, an examiner of votes, as at an election. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make scrutiny. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scrutinized p. pr. & vb. n. Scrutinizing ] [ From Scrutiny. ] To examine closely; to inspect or observe with critical attention; to regard narrowly; as, to scrutinize the measures of administration; to scrutinize the conduct or motives of individuals. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose votes they were obliged to scrutinize. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those pronounced him youngest who scrutinized his face the closest. G. W. Cable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who scrutinizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Closely examining, or inquiring; careful; strict. -- Scru"ti*nous*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. scrutinium, fr. scrutari to search carefully, originally, to search even to the rags, fr. scruta trash, trumpery; perhaps akin to E. shred: cf. AS. scrudnian to make scrutiny. ] 1. Close examination; minute inspection; critical observation. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that have designed exactness and deep scrutiny have taken some one part of nature. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view
And narrower scrutiny. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anc. Church) An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Canon Law) A ticket, or little paper billet, on which a vote is written. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Parliamentary Practice) An examination by a committee of the votes given at an election, for the purpose of correcting the poll. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To scrutinize. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escritoire. See Escritoire. ] A escritoire; a writing desk. [ 1913 Webster ]