51Թ

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inquisition

[ in-kwuh-zish-uhn, ing- ]

noun

  1. an official investigation, especially one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.
  2. any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.
  3. the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.
  4. an investigation, or process of inquiry.
  5. a judicial or official inquiry.

    Synonyms: ,

  6. the finding of such an inquiry.
  7. the document embodying the result of such inquiry.
  8. (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church.
    1. a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy. Compare Holy Office.


inquisition

1

/ ˌɪ԰ɪˈɪʃə /

noun

  1. the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation
  2. a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox
  3. an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown
  4. another word for inquest
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Inquisition

2

/ ˌɪ԰ɪˈɪʃə /

noun

  1. history a judicial institution of the Roman Catholic Church (1232–1820) founded to discover and suppress heresy See also Spanish Inquisition
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Inquisition

  1. A court established by the Roman Catholic Church in the thirteenth century to try cases of heresy and other offenses against the church. Those convicted could be handed over to the civil authorities for punishment, including execution.
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Notes

The Inquisition was most active in Spain , especially under Tomás de Torquemada (see also Torquemada ); its officials sometimes gained confessions through torture. It did not cease operation in the Spanish Empire until the nineteenth century.
By association, a harsh or unjust trial or interrogation may be called an “inquisition.”
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Derived Forms

  • ˌԱܾˈپDzԾ, noun
  • ˌԱܾˈپDzԲ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • qܾ·tDz· adjective
  • i·ܾ·tDz noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of inquisition1

1350–1400; Middle English inquisicio ( u ) n < Latin Աīīپō- (stem of Աīīپō ), equivalent to Աīī ( us ) past participle of Աī to inquire + -ō- -ion
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of inquisition1

C14: from legal Latin Աīīپō, from Աī to seek for; see inquire
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But over the course of her inquisition into the events surrounding her late husband’s heart attack, her prose becomes sharper, more concise.

From

Their motivation is to avert the horror show of one win from four with a trip to Paris to come and the grand inquisition of the coaches that would come with it.

From

Every inquisition into exactly who’s to blame for this unmitigated disaster has to begin by looking in the mirror.

From

O’Connor suggests that parents turn the inquisition back on their children by asking, “That’s an interesting question. What do you think?”

From

Early on, Callas parried these inquisitions with humor.

From

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