[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/perusal/)

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# perusal

noun (perusal; usually singular)

«perusal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) The act of reading something carefully and thoroughly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#m1)
2. (formal, often in modern use) A quick look through something; reading it casually. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#m2)

### In the lessons

A stiff formal word found in letters and documents: «for your perusal» means «for you to read». In stories it can give an old-fashioned or comic tone. Today, many people use it loosely to mean a quick read, though the older meaning is a careful read.

### Examples

- The letter was left on the desk for her perusal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x1)
- After a careful perusal of the map, we found the hidden path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x2)
- «I enclose my homework for your perusal,» wrote Ben, trying to sound grand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x3)
- A quick perusal of the menu showed there was no pizza. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x4)
- The teacher's perusal of our stories took all weekend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x5)
- The contract needs a full perusal before anyone signs it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x6)
- They were first brought to light, after a patient search and diligent perusal of ancient authors, by a Frenchman, M. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/#x7)

### Note

Noun from the verb «peruse» (to read carefully). Usually used with «for your perusal» or «a perusal of». Trap: some people think «peruse» means only «skim quickly»; dictionaries list both, but «read carefully» is the traditional meaning. Formal; everyday word: «read», «look».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «perusal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perusal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perusal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/perusal.html) on Mova free.