INQUIRY • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Inquiry

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/ɪnkwˈaɪri/ /ɪnkwərri/ Listen

noun

Inquiry n. (pl. inquiries) (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." "The men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate."

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."

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.

Synonyms: Interrogation; interrogatory; question; query; scrutiny; investigation; research; examination.

See images of 'Inquiry'

Etymology of 'Inquiry'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Inquiry" Quotes from Famous Books

... against her, and that whoever was wicked enough to steal would certainly deny the act, and conceal that which was stolen. Hopeless as it seemed to wait, doing nothing, our only chance of redress would be lost by making any inquiry which might frighten her. We sent a message to the goldsmith in London who mends her jewels, asking him to watch for this necklace, and so we waited. At last we heard news. An amethyst which we do not doubt is ours came to the goldsmith to be put in a ring; but there was no necklace with it. ...

— A Dozen Ways Of Love • Lily Dougall

... surprised, therefore, to find that from the very earliest period Christmas was observed. St. Chrysostom, in the fourth century, speaks of it as being even then of great antiquity. In one of his Epistles he mentions that Julius I, about A.D. 350, had caused strict inquiry to be made and had confirmed the observance of Christmas ...

— The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia • William James Miller

... country very docile, while the Indians from Lower California soon learned their dialect and acted as interpreters of the missionaries. The Cross which Vizcaino had planted in 1602 was found decked with skins and shells. On inquiry the Missionaries were told by the Indians that they had often seen mysterious rays of light around it, and thinking that some god was angry they were trying to propitiate him by ...

— Chimes of Mission Bells • Maria Antonia Field

... properties of plants, and found the place replete with wonders, of which he proposed to solace himself with the contemplation if he should never be able to accomplish his flight—rejoicing that his endeavours, though yet unsuccessful, had supplied him with a source of inexhaustible inquiry. But his original curiosity was not yet abated; he resolved to obtain some knowledge of the ways of men. His wish still continued, but his hope grew less. He ceased to survey any longer the walls of his prison, and spared to search by new toils for interstices which he knew could not be found, ...

— Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia • Samuel Johnson

... completely. Those now substituted will, however, answer the purpose nearly as well, and are more directly connected with the subjects of the preceding lectures; so that I hope throughout the volume the student will perceive an insistance upon one main truth, nor lose in any minor direction of inquiry the sense of the responsibility which the acceptance of that truth fastens upon him; responsibility for choice, decisive and conclusive, between two modes of study, which involve ultimately the development, or deadening, ...

— The Two Paths • John Ruskin

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