I. ˈinvən.ˌtōrē, -tȯr-, -ri noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Medieval Latin inventorium ) of Middle English invitory, modification of Medieval Latin inventorium, alteration (influenced by Latin -orium -ory) of Late Latin inventarium, from Latin inventus (past participle of invenire to find) + -arium -ary
1. : an itemized list of current assets: as
a. : a written list or catalog usually made by a fiduciary under oath of the tangible or intangible property of an individual, organization, or estate describing the items or classes of property so as to be identifiable and usually placing a valuation thereon
b.
(1) : a list or schedule of raw materials, supplies, work in process, and finished goods on hand as of a given date
(2) : a list of merchandise held for sale
(3) : the aggregate value assigned to an inventory
c. : a survey of natural resources ; specifically : an estimate or enumeration of the wildlife (as game animals) of a region
d. : a questionnaire designed to provide an index of individual interests or personality traits
2. : a detailed study or recapitulation : survey , summary
offered a brief inventory of the chief inventions of the middle ages — Benjamin Farrington
the replies … provide a nearly complete inventory of the ideas which are afloat among the young people — W.J.Cahnman
Whitman's verses … are often more inventories than imaginative projections of America — H.S.Canby
3.
a. : the quantity of goods or materials on hand : stock , supply
adequate inventories of washing machines to meet local demand
it took quite an inventory of heavy tools … to do all this — George Woodbury
b. : a surplus of goods or materials accumulated against future needs : reserve
there has piled up a 2000 million dollar inventory of foodstuffs — John Boyd Orr
industry would purchase for a year in advance what would amount to an inventory of labor — Leland Hazard
4. : the act or process of taking an inventory
the annual inventory takes two weeks
depends on a careful and continuing inventory of the entire staff — J.B.Conant
5. : a comprehensive list of personality traits, personal preferences, attitudes, interests, or abilities used to measure subjective judgments and to evaluate individual characteristics and skills
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make an itemized report or record of : take stock of : catalog
inventory home troops
inventory waterfowl
walked in uninvited and inventoried the room with one long glance — John Selby
specifically : to count and list the assets of together with their valuation
inventory an estate
b. : to include in a business inventory
2. : to make a study or recapitulation of : survey , summarize
a book of criticism that … completely inventoried the mind of the age — Rebecca West
intransitive verb
: to have a value by inventory
his estate inventories at close to half a million