Adjacent Words

Inquisition definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INQUISI'TION, n. s as z. [L. inquisitio,inquiro. See Inquire.]
1. Inquiry; examination; a searching or search. Psalms 9.
2. Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest.
The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.
3. Examination; discussion.
4. In some catholic countries, a court or tribunal established for the examination and punishment of heretics. This court was established in the twelfth century by father Dominic, who was charged by pope Innocent III. with orders to excite catholic princes and people to extirpate heretics.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
2: a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English inquisicioun, from Anglo-French inquisition, from Latin inquisition-, inquisitio, from inquirere Date: 14th century 1. the act of inquiring ; examination 2. a judicial or official inquiry or examination usually before a jury; also the finding of the jury 3. a. capitalized a former Roman Catholic tribunal for the discovery and punishment of heresy b. an investigation conducted with little regard for individual rights c. a severe questioning • inquisitional adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 usu. derog. an intensive search or investigation. 2 a judicial or official inquiry. 3 (the Inquisition) RC Ch. hist. an ecclesiastical tribunal for the suppression of heresy, esp. in Spain, operating through torture and execution. Derivatives: inquisitional adj. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L inquisitio -onis examination (as INQUIRE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inquisition In`qui*si"tion, v. t. To make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into. [Obs.] --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(inquisitions) An inquisition is an official investigation, especially one which is very thorough and uses harsh methods of questioning. N-COUNT

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

in-kwi-zish'-un (darash, "to follow," "diligently inquire," "question," "search" (De 19:18; Ps 9:12), baqash, "to search out," "to strive after," "inquire" (Es 2:23)): The term refers, as indicated by these passages, first of all to a careful and diligent inquiry necessary to ascertain the truth from witnesses in a court, but may also refer to a careful examination into circumstances or conditions without official authority.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Inquest, judicial inquiry.

Moby Thesaurus

Areopagus, analysis, assize, board, change of venue, council, court-martial, cross-examination, cross-interrogation, cross-questioning, curia, delving, direct examination, examination, forum, grilling, hearing, inquest, inquirendo, inquiring, inquiring mind, inquiry, investigation, judicatory, judicature, judiciary, jury trial, mistrial, police interrogation, probe, probing, quest, redirect examination, research, the Inquisition, the grill, third-degree, trial, trial by jury, tribunal