examen

1 a systematic search for the truth or facts about something <an examen of the president's assasination that has been plagued by controversy since its original publication> Synonyms delving, disquisition, inquiry, examination, exploration, inquest, inquisition, investigation, probation, probe, probing, research, studyRelated Words quest; audit, check; checkup, diagnosis, inspection; hearing, interrogation, trial; feeler, query, question; poll, questionary, questionnaire, survey; challenge, cross-examination, going-over, grilling, quiz; rehearing, reinvestigation; self-examination, self-exploration, self-questioning, self-reflection, self-scrutiny, soul-searching

2 an essay evaluating or analyzing something <an insightful examen of the poet's works> Synonyms critique, criticism, notice, reviewRelated Words column, commentary, editorial, punditry; appraisal, assessment, evaluation; analysis, examination, opinion, outline, study, survey