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7 dictionary results for: Inquest
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
in·quest       [in-kwest] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.a legal or judicial inquiry, usually before a jury, esp. an investigation made by a coroner into the cause of a death.
2.the body of people appointed to hold such an inquiry, esp. a coroner's jury.
3.the decision or finding based on such inquiry.
4.an investigation or examination.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME < ML inquésta, equiv. to L in- in-2 + quaesīta, pl. (taken in ML as fem. sing.) of quaesītum question (see quest); r. ME enqueste < AF < ML, as above]

—Synonyms 1. hearing, inquisition.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
in·quest       (ĭn'kwěst')  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. Law
    1. A judicial inquiry into a matter usually held before a jury, especially an inquiry into the cause of a death.
    2. A jury making such an inquiry.
    3. The finding based on such an inquiry.
  2. An investigation or inquiry. See Synonyms at inquiry.


[Middle English enqueste, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *inquaesīta, thing inquired into, alteration of Latin inquīsīta, feminine past participle of inquīrere, to inquire into; see inquire.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
inquest 
c.1290, an-queste, "legal or judicial inquiry," from O.Fr. enqueste "inquiry," from fem. pp. of V.L. *inquirere "inquire" (see inquire).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
inquest

noun
an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

inquest in·quest (ĭn'kwěst')
n.

  1. A legal inquiry into the cause of violent or mysterious death.
  2. The finding based on such an inquiry.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: in·quest
Pronunciation: 'in-"kwest
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French enqueste, from Old French, ultimately from Latin inquirere to ask about, from in- within, into + quaerere to seek
1 : a judicial or official inquiry or examination often before a jury inquest> —compare TRIAL
2 : a body of people (as a jury) assembled to hold a judicial or official inquiry; also : the finding of such an inquiry or the document recording it

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Inquest

In"quest\, n. [OE. enqueste, OF. enqueste, F. enqu[^e]te, LL. inquesta, for inquisita, fr. L. inquisitus, p. p. of inquirere. See Inquire.]

1. Inquiry; quest; search. [R.] --Spenser.

The laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul must make after science. --South.

2. (Law) (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination, esp. before a jury; as, a coroner's inquest in case of a sudden death. (b) A body of men assembled under authority of law to inquire into any matterm civil or criminal, particularly any case of violent or sudden death; a jury, particularly a coroner's jury. The grand jury is sometimes called the grand inquest. See under Grand. (c) The finding of the jury upon such inquiry.

Coroner's inquest, an inquest held by a coroner to determine the cause of any violent, sudden, or mysterious death. See Coroner.

Inquest of office, an inquiry made, by authority or direction of proper officer, into matters affecting the rights and interests of the crown or of the state. --Craig. Bouvier.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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