Etymology Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“to hear”). The sense of examine is because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened.
An independent review and examination of records and activities to assess the adequacy of system controls, to ensure compliance with established policies and operational procedures, and to recommend necessary changes in controls, policies, or procedures
National Assembly audit
4
The result of such an examination, or an account as adjusted by auditors; final account.
Yet I can make my audit up.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
5
Scientology, Lifestyle, Religion Spiritual counseling, which forms the core of Dianetics.
[ Werner Erhard said:] I got a lot of benefit from auditing. It was the fastest and deepest way to handle situations that I had yet encountered.1978, William Warren Bartley, Werner Erhard: the Transformation of a Man: the Founding of est, New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., →ISBN, pages 146–47:
The trainings of Landmark, Block Training and UP Hans Schuster und Partner thus display strong similarities with the self-improvement seminars of Scientology, which are incidentally called 'auditing sessions', a term taken from the business world.2007, Martin Ramstedt, “New Age and Business: Corporations as Cultic Milieus?”, in Daren Kemp, James R. Lewis, editors, Handbook of the New Age (Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion), volume 1, Leiden: BRILL, →ISBN, pages 196–197:
With his Oriſons I meddle not, for hee appeals to a high Audit.1649, J[ohn] Milton, chapter V, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 49:
Etymology Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“to hear”). The sense of examine is because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened.
1
To examine and adjust (e.g. an account).
to audit the accounts of a treasure, or of parties who have a suit depending in court
2
Business, Finance To conduct an independent review and examination of system records and activities in order to test the adequacy and effectiveness of data security and data integrity procedures, to ensure compliance with established policy and operational procedures, and to recommend any necessary changes
In John's case, I suspect, when he lost Diana he went back to his Scientology church to be audited.2011, Diane Saks, Overcoming Celebrity Obsession, page 225:
4
To attend an academic class without the opportunity to receive academic credit.