A search circuit for determining whether an input string including a plurality of input characters matches an inexact pattern including a number of pattern characters that are members of a specified character set, the search circuit including an input for receiving a bitcheck command, the bitcheck command containing a bitmap including a plurality of compliance bits each indicating whether a corresponding one of a plurality of reference characters of a general character set is a member of the specified character set, and a circuit for referencing each of the input characters to a corresponding compliance bit in the bitmap to determine whether the input character are members of the specified character set.