4 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

inquire

verb

1: inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times" [syn: {ask}, {enquire}]

2: have a wish or desire to know something; "He wondered who had built this beautiful church" [syn: {wonder}, {enquire}]

3: conduct an inquiry or investigation of; "The district attorney's office investigated reports of possible irregularities"; "inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady" [syn: {investigate}, {enquire}]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Inquire \In*quire"\, verb (used with an object)

1. To ask about; to seek to know by asking; to make examination or inquiry respecting.

Having thus at length inquired the truth concerning law and dispense. --Milton.

And all obey and few inquire his will. --Byron.

2. To call or name. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Syn: To ask; question. See {Question}.

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Inquire \In*quire"\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Inquired}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Inquiring}.] [OE. enqueren, inqueren, OF. enquerre, F. enqu['e]rir, L. inquirere, inquisitum; pref. in- in + quarere to seek. See {Quest} a seeking, and cf. {Inquiry}.] [Written also {enquire}.]

1. To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries.

We will call the damsel, and inquire. --Gen. xxiv. 57.

Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him. --1 Sam. xxiii. 4.

2. To seek to learn anything by recourse to the proper means of knowledge; to make examination.

And inquire Gladly into the ways of God with man. --Miltom.

Note: This word is followed by of before the person asked; as, to inquire of a neighbor. It is followed by concerning, after, or about, before the subject of inquiry; as, his friends inquired about or concerning his welfare. ''Thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.'' --Eccl. vii. 10. It is followed by into when search is made for particular knowledge or information; as, to inquire into the cause of a sudden death. It is followed by for or after when a place or person is sought, or something is missing. ''Inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus.'' --Acts ix. 11.

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

45 Moby Thesaurus words for "inquire": ask, ask a question, ask about, ask questions, be curious, bring into question, burn with curiosity, catechize, demand, dig around for, dig up, enquire, examine, explore, gape, gawk, inquire into, inquire of, inspect, interpellate, interrogate, investigate, look into, make inquiry, nose around for, nose out, peer, probe, propose a question, propound a question, put queries, query, question, quiz, require an answer, research, rubber, rubberneck, scrutinize, search, seek, stare, study, survey, want to know

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