Syn. — To ask; question. See Question.
Inquirent
(In*quir"ent) a. [L. inquirens, p. pr.] Making inquiry; inquiring; questioning. [Obs.] Shenstone.
Inquirer
(In*quir"er) n. [Written also enquirer.] One who inquires or examines; questioner; investigator.
Locke.
Expert inquirers after truth.
Cowper. Inquiring
(In*quir"ing), a. Given to inquiry; disposed to investigate causes; curious; as, an inquiring mind.
Inquiringly
(In*quir"ing*ly), adv. In an inquiring manner.
Inquiry
(In*quir"y) n.; pl. Inquiries [See Inquire.] [Written also enquiry.]
1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
He could no path nor track of foot descry,
Nor by inquiry learn, nor guess by aim.
Spenser.
The men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the
gate.
Acts x. 17. 2. Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination into facts or principles; research; investigation; as,
physical inquiries.
All that is wanting to the perfection of this art will undoubtedly be found, if able men . . . will make inquiry
into it.
Dryden. Court of inquiry. See under Court. — Writ of inquiry, a writ issued in certain actions at law, where
the defendant has suffered judgment to pass against him by default, in order to ascertain and assess
the plaintiff's damages, where they can not readily be ascertained by mere calculation. Burrill.
Syn. — Interrogation; interrogatory; question; query; scrutiny; investigation; research; examination.
Inquisible
(In*quis"i*ble) a. Admitting judicial inquiry. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Inquisition
(In`qui*si"tion) n. [L. inquisitio : cf. F. inquisition. See Inquire, and cf. Inquest.]
1. The act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation.
As I could learn through earnest inquisition.
Latimer.
Let not search and inquisition quail
To bring again these foolish runaways.
Shak. 2. (Law) (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest. (b) The finding of a jury, especially such a
finding under a writ of inquiry. Bouvier.
The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.
Blackstone. 3. (R. C. Ch.) A court or tribunal for the examination and punishment of heretics, fully established by
Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. Its operations were chiefly confined to Spain, Portugal, and their dependencies,
and a part of Italy.
Inquisition
(In`qui*si"tion), v. t. To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into. [Obs.] Milton.
