From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inquisition \In'qui*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. --Shak.
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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Inquisition \In'qui*si"tion\, verb (used with an object) To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into. [Obs.] --Milton.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
2: a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
40 Moby Thesaurus words for "inquisition": Areopagus, analysis, assize, board, change of venue, council, court-martial, cross-examination, cross-interrogation, cross-questioning, curia, delving, direct examination, examination, forum, grilling, hearing, inquest, inquirendo, inquiring, inquiring mind, inquiry, investigation, judicatory, judicature, judiciary, jury trial, mistrial, police interrogation, probe, probing, quest, redirect examination, research, the Inquisition, the grill, third-degree, trial, trial by jury, tribunal
Define.com is a registered nonprofit corporation dedicated solely to the global public interest and the advancement of humanity. It belongs to all of us who have a desire to promote electronic democracy, science, creativity, imagination, reason, critical thinking, peace, race and gender equality, civil rights, equal access to education, personal liberty, free speech, animal rights, compassionate and nonviolent parenting, social and economic justice, global monetary reform, Secular Humanism, cognitive liberty and a permanent cessation of The War on Drugs.
Let's see what we can do if we put our heads together.
0