check

I. noun Etymology: Middle English chek, from Anglo-French eschec, from Arabic shāh, from Persian, literally, king; akin to Greek ktasthai to acquire, Sanskrit kṣatra dominion Date: 15th century 1. exposure of a chess king to an attack from which he must be protected or moved to safety 2. a. a sudden stoppage of a forward course or progress ; arrest b. a checking of an opposing player (as in ice hockey) 3. a sudden pause or break in a progression 4. archaic reprimand, rebuke 5. one that arrests, limits, or restrains ; restraint <

against all checks, rebukes, and manners, I must advance — Shakespeare

> 6. a. a standard for testing and evaluation ; criterion b. examination <

a quick check of the engine

> c. inspection, investigation <

a loyalty check on government employees

> d. the act of testing or verifying; also the sample or unit used for testing or verifying 7. a written order directing a bank to pay money as instructed ; draft 8. a. a ticket or token showing ownership or identity or indicating payment made <

a baggage check

> b. a counter in various games c. a slip indicating the amount due ; bill 9. [Middle English chek, short for cheker checker] a. a pattern in squares that resembles a checkerboard b. a fabric woven or printed with such a design 10. a mark typically ✓ placed beside an item to show it has been noted, examined, or verified 11. crack, break • checkless adjective II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to put (a chess king) in check 2. chiefly dialect rebuke, reprimand 3. a. to slow or bring to a stop ; brake <

hastily checked the impulse

> b. to block the progress of (as a hockey player) 4. a. to restrain or diminish the action or force of ; control b. to slack or ease off and then belay again (as a rope) 5. a. to compare with a source, original, or authority ; verify <

needs to check her facts

> b. to inspect, examine, or look at appraisingly — usually used with out or over <

checking out new cars

> c. to mark with a check as examined, verified, or satisfactory — often used with off <

checked off each item

> 6. a. to consign (as luggage) to a common carrier from which one has purchased a passenger ticket <

checked our bags before boarding

> b. to ship or accept for shipment under such a consignment 7. to mark into squares ; checker 8. to leave or accept for safekeeping in a checkroom <

check a coat

> 9. to make checks or chinks ; cause to crack <

the sun checks timber

> intransitive verb 1. a. of a dog to stop in a chase especially when scent is lost b. to halt through caution, uncertainty, or fear ; stop 2. a. to investigate conditions <

checked on the passengers' safety

> b. to prove to be consistent or truthful <

the description checks with the photograph

> — often used with out <

the story checked out

> 3. to draw a check on a bank 4. to waive the right to initiate the betting in a round of poker 5. crack, split Synonyms: see restrain III. inter — used to express assent or agreement