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Webster 1913 Edition

Inquisition

Inˊqui-si′tion

,
Noun.
[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.
Shakespeare
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.

Inˊqui-si′tion

,
Verb.
T.
To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into.
[Obs.]
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Inquisition

INQUISI'TION

,
Noun.
s as z. [L. inquisitio,inquiro. See Inquire.]
1.
Inquiry; examination; a searching or search. Ps.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.

Definition 2024

Inquisition

Inquisition

See also: inquisition

English

Proper noun

Inquisition

  1. (historical) a tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church set up to investigate and suppress heresy.
  2. (by extension) a harsh or rigorous interrogation that violates the rights of an individual

Derived terms

Translations

German

Pronunciation

Noun

Inquisition f ‎(genitive Inquisition, plural Inquisitionen)

  1. Inquisition

inquisition

inquisition

See also: Inquisition

English

Noun

inquisition ‎(plural inquisitions)

  1. an investigation or inquiry into the truth of some matter
    • Latimer
      as I could learn through earnest inquisition
    • Shakespeare
      Let not search and inquisition quail / To bring again these foolish runaways.
  2. an inquest
  3. a questioning
  4. The finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry.
    • Blackstone
      The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bouvier to this entry?)

Derived terms

Verb

inquisition ‎(third-person singular simple present inquisitions, present participle inquisitioning, simple past and past participle inquisitioned)

  1. (obsolete) To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

French

Etymology

From Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquisitio

Noun

inquisition f ‎(plural inquisitions)

  1. inquisition

References

“inquisition” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

From Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquisitio, from inquirere

Pronunciation

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