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inquire - 5 dictionary results
in⋅quire
[in-kwahyuh
r] 
verb, -quired, -quir⋅ing.–verb (used without object)
| 1. | to seek information by questioning; ask: to inquire about a person. |
| 2. | to make investigation (usually fol. by into): to inquire into the incident. |
–verb (used with object)
—Verb phrase| 3. | to seek to learn by asking: to inquire a person's name. |
| 4. | Obsolete. to seek. |
| 5. | Obsolete. to question (a person). |
| 6. | inquire after, to ask about the state of health or condition of: Friends have been calling all morning to inquire after you. |
Also, enquire.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < L inquīrere to seek for (see in- 2 , query ); r. ME enqueren < OF enquerre < L, as above
1250–1300; ME < L inquīrere to seek for (see in- 2 , query ); r. ME enqueren < OF enquerre < L, as above
Related forms:
in⋅quir⋅a⋅ble, adjective
in⋅quir⋅er, noun
Synonyms:
1–3. investigate, examine, query. Inquire, ask, question imply that a person addresses another to obtain information. Ask is the general word: to ask what time it is. Inquire is more formal and implies asking about something specific: to inquire about a rumor. To question implies repetition and persistence in asking; it often applies to legal examination or investigation: to question the survivor of an accident. Sometimes it implies doubt: to question a figure, an account.
1–3. investigate, examine, query. Inquire, ask, question imply that a person addresses another to obtain information. Ask is the general word: to ask what time it is. Inquire is more formal and implies asking about something specific: to inquire about a rumor. To question implies repetition and persistence in asking; it often applies to legal examination or investigation: to question the survivor of an accident. Sometimes it implies doubt: to question a figure, an account.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To inquire
| in·quire (ĭn-kwīr') v. in·quired also en·quired, in·quir·ing also en·quir·ing, in·quires also en·quires v. intr.
inquire afterTo ask about the health or condition of. [Middle English enquiren, from Old French enquerre, from Vulgar Latin *inquaerere, alteration of Latin inquīrere : in-, into; see in-2 + quaerere, to seek.] in·quir'er n., in·quir'ing·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Inquire
In*quire"\, v. i. [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 knoledge; 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.Inquire
In*quire"\, v. t. 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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : inquire
Spanish:
preguntar,
German:
fragen,
Japanese:
尋ねる
inquire
c.1290, from O.Fr. enquerre, from V.L. *inquærere, from L. in- "into" + quærere "ask, seek" (see query). Respelled 14c. on L. model, but half-Latinized enquire still persists.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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