One placed to superintend others; an overseer; an inspector. [1913 Webster]
"Were 't not madness then,
To make the fox surveyor of the fold?" [1913 Webster]
One who views and examines for the purpose of ascertaining the condition, quantity, or quality of anything; as, a surveyor of highways, ordnance, etc. [1913 Webster]
One who surveys or measures land; one who practices the art of surveying. [1913 Webster]
An officer who ascertains the contents of casks, and the quantity of liquors subject to duty; a gauger. [1913 Webster]

Surveyor general. (a) A principal surveyor; as, the surveyor general of the king's manors, or of woods and parks. [Eng.] (b) An officer having charge of the survey of the public lands of a land district. [U.S.] Davies & Peck (Math. Dict.). -- Surveyor's compass. See Circumferentor. -- Surveyor's level. See under Level.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

surveyor, n.
1 a person who surveys land and buildings, esp. professionally.
2 Brit. an official inspector, esp. for measurement and valuation.
3 a person who carries out surveys.

Derivative

surveyorship n. (esp. in sense 2).

Etymology

ME f. AF & OF surve(i)our (as SURVEY)

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THESAURUS

surveyor

Big Brother, appraiser, assayer, assessor, auditor, boatswain, boss, cartographer, chief, chorographer, comptroller, controller, estimator, evaluator, floor manager, floorman, floorwalker, foreman, gaffer, ganger, gauger, geodesist, head, headman, inspector, land surveyor, measurer, meter, monitor, noncommissioned officer, oceanographer, overman, overseer, proctor, sirdar, slave driver, straw boss, subforeman, super, superintendent, supervisor, taskmaster, topographer, valuator, valuer, visitor

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ROGET THESAURUS

surveyor

Director

N director, manager, governor, rector, comptroller, superintendent, supervisor, straw boss, intendant, overseer, overlooker, supercargo, husband, inspector, visitor, ranger, surveyor, aedile, moderator, monitor, taskmaster, master, leader, ringleader, demagogue, corypheus, conductor, fugleman, precentor, bellwether, agitator, caporal, choregus, collector, file leader, flugelman, linkboy, guiding star, adviser, guide, pilot, helmsman, steersman, steermate, wire-puller, driver, whip, Jehu, charioteer, coachman, carman, cabman, postilion, vetturino, muleteer, arriero, teamster, whipper in, head, head man, head center, boss, principal, president, speaker, chair, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, captain, superior, mayor, vice president, prime minister, premier, vizier, grand vizier, eparch, officer, functionary, minister, official, red-tapist, bureaucrat, man in office, Jack in office, office bearer, person in authority, statesman, strategist, legislator, lawgiver, politician, statist, statemonger, Minos, Draco, arbiter, boss, political dictator, board, secretary, secretary of state, Reis Effendi, vicar, steward, factor, agent, bailiff, middleman, foreman, clerk of works, landreeve, factotum, major-domo, seneschal, housekeeper, shepherd, croupier, proctor, procurator, ex officio.

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