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Question definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

QUESTION, n. ques'chun. [L. quaestio. See Quest.]
1. The act of asking; an interrogatory; as, to examine by question and answer.
2. That which is asked; something proposed which is to be solved by answer. What is the question?
3. Inquiry; disquisition; discussion.
It is to be put to question, whether it is lawful for christian princes to make an invasive war, simply for the propagation of the faith.
4. Dispute or subject of debate.
There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. John 3.
5. Doubt; controversy; dispute. The story is true beyond all question.
This does not bring their truth in question.
6. Trial; examination; judicial trial or inquiry.
Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. Acts 23. Acts 24.
7. Examination by torture.
8. Endeavor; effort; act of seeking. [Not in use.]
9. In logic, a proposition stated by way of interrogation.
In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question.
QUES'TION, v.i.
1. To ask a question or questions; to inquire by interrogatory or proposition to be answered.
He that questioneth much, shall learn much.
2. To debate by interrogatories.
QUES'TION, v.t.
1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness.
2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of.
And most we question what we most desire.
3. To have no confidence in; to treat as doubtful. If a man is frustrated in his designs, his prudence is questions.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an instance of questioning; "there was a question about my training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were present" [syn: question, inquiry, enquiry, query, interrogation] [ant: answer]
2: the subject matter at issue; "the question of disease merits serious discussion"; "under the head of minor Roman poets" [syn: question, head]
3: a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply; "he asked a direct question"; "he had trouble phrasing his interrogations" [syn: question, interrogation, interrogative, interrogative sentence]
4: uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something; "the dubiousness of his claim"; "there is no question about the validity of the enterprise" [syn: doubt, dubiousness, doubtfulness, question]
5: a formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote; "he made a motion to adjourn"; "she called for the question" [syn: motion, question]
6: an informal reference to a marriage proposal; "he was ready to pop the question" v
1: challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of; "We must question your judgment in this matter" [syn: question, oppugn, call into question]
2: pose a series of questions to; "The suspect was questioned by the police"; "We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion" [syn: interrogate, question]
3: pose a question [syn: question, query]
4: conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting [syn: interview, question]
5: place in doubt or express doubtful speculation; "I wonder whether this was the right thing to do"; "she wondered whether it would snow tonight" [syn: wonder, question]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin quaestion-, quaestio, from quaerere to seek, ask Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) an interrogative expression often used to test knowledge (2) an interrogative sentence or clause b. a subject or aspect in dispute or open for discussion ; issue; broadly problem, matter c. (1) a subject or point of debate or a proposition to be voted on in a meeting (2) the bringing of such to a vote d. the specific point at issue 2. a. an act or instance of asking ; inquiry b. interrogation; also a judicial or official investigation c. torture as part of an examination d. (1) objection, dispute <true beyond question> (2) room for doubt or objection <little question of his skill> (3) chance, possibility <no question of escape> II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to ask a question of or about 2. to interrogate intensively ; cross-examine 3. a. doubt, dispute b. to subject to analysis ; examine intransitive verb to ask questions ; inquire Synonyms: see ask • questioner noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a sentence worded or expressed so as to seek information. 2 a doubt about or objection to a thing's truth, credibility, advisability, etc. (allowed it without question). b the raising of such doubt etc. 3 a matter to be discussed or decided or voted on. 4 a problem requiring an answer or solution. 5 (foll. by of) a matter or concern depending on conditions (it's a question of money). --v.tr. 1 ask questions of; interrogate. 2 subject (a person) to examination. 3 throw doubt upon; raise objections to. 4 seek information from the study of (phenomena, facts). Phrases and idioms: be a question of time be certain to happen sooner or later. beyond all question undoubtedly. come into question be discussed; become of practical importance. in question that is being discussed or referred to (the person in question). is not the question is irrelevant. out of the question too impracticable etc. to be worth discussing; impossible. put the question require supporters and opponents of a proposal to record their votes, divide a meeting. question mark a punctuation mark (?) indicating a question. question-master Brit. a person who presides over a quiz game etc. question time Parl. a period during parliamentary proceedings when MPs may question ministers. Derivatives: questioner n. questioningly adv. questionless adj. Etymology: ME f. AF questiun, OF question, questionner f. L quaestio -onis f. quaerere quaest- seek

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Question Ques"tion, n. [F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n.] 1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer. 2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. -- John iii. 25. It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith. -- Bacon. 3. Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture. --Blackstone. He that was in question for the robbery. Shak. The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question. --Macaulay. 4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query. But this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ? --Milton. 5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question. 6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [Obs.] --Shak. In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question. Leading question. See under Leading. Out of question, unquestionably. ``Out of question, 't is Maria's hand.'' --Shak. Out of the question. See under Out. Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably. Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration. Note: The form of the question is: ``Shall the main question be now put?'' If the vote is in the affirmative, the matter before the body must be voted upon as it then stands, without further general debate or the submission of new amendments. In the House of Representatives of the United States, and generally in America, a negative decision operates to keep the business before the body as if the motion had not been made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to postpone consideration for the day, and until the subject may be again introduced. In American practice, the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is made by a friend of the measure. In English practice, the object is to get rid of the subject for the time being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting against it. --Cushing. To beg the question. See under Beg. To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate. Syn: Point; topic; subject.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Question Ques"tion, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Questioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Questioning.] [Cf. F. questionner. See Question, n.] 1. To ask questions; to inquire. He that questioneth much shall learn much. --Bacon. 2. To argue; to converse; to dispute. [Obs.] I pray you, think you question with the Jew. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Question Ques"tion, v. t. 1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness. 2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query. And most we question what we most desire. --Prior. 3. To raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to. ``But have power and right to question thy bold entrance on this place.'' --Milton. 4. To talk to; to converse with. With many holiday and lady terms he questioned me. -- Shak. Syn: To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert; dispute. Usage: Question, Inquire, Interrogate. To inquire is merely to ask for information, and implies no authority in the one who asks. To interrogate is to put repeated questions in a formal or systematic fashion to elicit some particular fact or facts. To question has a wider sense than to interrogate, and often implies an attitude of distrust or opposition on the part of the questioner.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(questions, questioning, questioned) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A question is something that you say or write in order to ask a person about something. They asked a great many questions about England... The President refused to answer further questions on the subject... N-COUNT: oft N about/on n 2. If you question someone, you ask them a lot of questions about something. This led the therapist to question Jim about his parents and their marriage... VERB: V n • questioning The police have detained thirty-two people for questioning. 3. If you question something, you have or express doubts about whether it is true, reasonable, or worthwhile. It never occurs to them to question the doctor's decisions... VERB: V n 4. If you say that there is some question about something, you mean that there is doubt or uncertainty about it. If something is in question or has been called into question, doubt or uncertainty has been expressed about it. There's no question about their success... The paper says the President's move has called into question the whole basis of democracy in the country... With the loyalty of key military units in question, that could prove an extraordinarily difficult task. N-SING: with supp, also prep N 5. A question is a problem, matter, or point which needs to be considered. But the whole question of aid is a tricky political one... N-COUNT: oft N of n/wh 6. The questions in an examination are the problems which are set in order to test your knowledge or ability. That question did come up in the examination. N-COUNT 7. see also questioning, cross-question, leading question, trick question 8. The person, thing, or time in question is one which you have just been talking about or which is relevant. Add up all the income you've received over the period in question. PHRASE: n PHR 9. If you say that something is out of the question, you are emphasizing that it is completely impossible or unacceptable. For the homeless, private medical care is simply out of the question... PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis] 10. If you pop the question, you ask someone to marry you. (JOURNALISM INFORMAL) Stuart got serious quickly and popped the question six months later. = propose PHRASE: V inflects 11. If you say there is no question of something happening, you are emphasizing that it is not going to happen. As far as he was concerned there was no question of betraying his own comrades... There is no question of the tax-payer picking up the bill for the party. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR -ing, PHR n -ing [emphasis] 12. If you do something without question, you do it without arguing or asking why it is necessary. ...military formations, carrying out without question the battle orders of superior officers. PHRASE: PHR after v 13. You use without question to emphasize the opinion you are expressing. He was our greatest storyteller, without question. PHRASE: PHR with cl [emphasis]

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kwes'-chun: The noun for dabhar, "word," in 1Ki 10:3 parallel 2Ch 9:2, with "hard question" for chidhah, "dark saying," "riddle," in 1Ki 10:1 parallel 2Ch 9:1. In the New Testament for zetema, the synonym zetesis (and 1Ti 1:4, ekzetesis), being rendered "questionings" by the Revised Version (British and American) (the King James Version does not distinguish). In Mr 11:29 for logos, "word" (so the Revised Version margin). The verb in the sense "ask a question" in 2Ch 31:9 for darash, and Lu 2:46; 23:9 for eperotao (compare the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version margin Joh 16:23). Elsewhere the verb is for suzeteo, "dispute" (Mr 1:27, etc.; compare Ac 6:9; 9:29). "Called in question," Ac 19:40 the King James Version, represents egkaleo, "call into court," but in Ac 23:6; 24:21, "I am called in question" is for krinomai, "I am being judged."

Burton Scott Easton

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Interrogation, examination, inquiry, act of asking. 2. Interrogatory, query, inquiry. 3. Discussion, inquiry, debate, disquisition, investigation, trial, examination. 4. Dispute, controversy, doubt, verbal contest. 5. Proposition, motion, topic, point, theme of inquiry, subject of investigation. 6. Examination, investigation, trial, judicial or official inquiry. 7. Torture, examination. II. v. a. 1. Interrogate, ask, catechise, examine, inquire of, put questions to. 2. Doubt, query, hesitate to believe, consider questionable, be uncertain of. 3. Dispute, call in question, challenge, take exception to.

Foolish Dictionary

Is marriage a failure?

Moby Thesaurus

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