inquiry (n.)

early 15c., enquery, "a judicial examination of facts to determine truth;" mid-15c. in general sense "attempt to learn something, act or fact of inquiring," probably an Anglo-French noun developed from enqueren "to inquire" (see inquire). Respelled from mid-16c. to conform to Latin.

There is one word of caution, however, to be given to those who renounce inquiry; it is that they cannot retain the right to condemn inquirers. [Benjamin Jowett, "On the Interpretation of Scripture," in "Essays and Reviews," 1860]

also from early 15c.

Entries linking to inquiry

inquire (v.)

c. 1300, enqueren, anqueren, "to ask (a question), ask about, ask for (specific information); learn or find out by asking, seek information or knowledge; to conduct a legal or official investigation (into an alleged offense)," from Old French enquerre "ask, inquire about" (Modern French enquérir) and directly from Medieval Latin inquerere, from in- "into" (from PIE root *en "in") + Latin quaerere "ask, seek" (see query (v.)), in place of classical Latin inquirere "seek after, search for, examine, scrutinize." The English word was respelled 14c. on the Latin model, but half-Latinized enquire persists. Related: Inquired; inquiring.

enquiry (n.)

alternative spelling of inquiry. Also see enquire. Related: Enquiries.

Trends of inquiry

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to Explore

research

1570s, "act of searching closely" for a specific person or thing, from French recerche (1530s, Modern French recherche), back-formation from Old French recercher "seek out, search closely" (see research (v.)). The meaning "diligent scientific inquiry and investigation directed to

question

early 13c., questioun, "philosophical or theological problem" (especially when phrased as an interrogative statement), early 14c. as "utterance meant to elicit an answer or discussion," also as "a difficulty, a doubt," from Anglo-French questiun, Old French question "question, di

query

1530s, quaere "a question," from Latin quaere "to ask, inquire," "much used as a marginal note or memorandum to indicate a question or doubt, and hence taken as a noun" [Century Dictionary], second person singular imperative of quaerere "to seek, look for; strive, endeavor, striv

inquest

late 13c., enquest, an-queste "legal or judicial inquiry," especially one before a jury, from Old French enqueste "inquiry...from Vulgar Latin *inquaestia (source also of Italian inchiesta), from Latin inquisita (res) "(a thing) looked into; an inquiry...

quest

c. 1300, "an inquest, a judicial inquiry;" early 14c., "a search for something, the act of seeking, pursuit" (especially...in reference to hounds seeking game in the hunt), from Old French queste "search, quest, chase, hunt, pursuit; inquest, inquiry..." (12c., Modern French quête), properly "the act of seeking," and directly from Medieval Latin questa "search, inquiry,"...

disquisition

c. 1600, "subject for investigation" (a sense now obsolete), also "systematic search, formal inquiry into some problem or...topic," from Latin disquisitionem (nominative disquisitio) "an inquiry, investigation," noun of action from past-participle...

method

regular, systematic treatment of disease," from Latin methodus "way of teaching or going," from Greek methodos "scientific inquiry..., method of inquiry, investigation," originally "pursuit, a following after," from meta "in pursuit or quest of" (see meta...

probe

early 15c., "slender, flexible rod for exploring the conditions of wounds or other cavities in the body," also "a medical examination," from Medieval Latin proba "examination," in Late Latin "a test, proof," from Latin probare "show, demonstrate; test, inspect; judge by trial" (s

poll

c. 1300 (late 12c. as a surname), polle, "hair of the head; piece of fur from the head of an animal," also (early 14c.) "head of a person or animal," from or related to Middle Low German or Middle Dutch pol "head, top." The sense was extended by mid-14c. to "person, individual" (

interrogation

late 14c., "a question;" c. 1500, "a questioning; a set of questions," from Old French interrogacion "a questioning" (13c.) or directly from Latin interrogationem (nominative interrogatio) "a question; questioning; judicial inquiry," noun of action from past participle stem of in

Share inquiry

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry">Etymology of inquiry by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of inquiry. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of inquiry,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of inquiry.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of inquiry.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/inquiry (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on December 01, 2022

Remove ads >

Trending words

1. intro
2. war
3. humble
4. bar
5. theory
6. tarmac
7. hospital
8. romance
9. soul
10. music

Dictionary entries near inquiry

inquest

inquiline

inquire

inquirer

inquiring

inquiry

inquisition

inquisitive

inquisitor

inro

inroad