inquisition - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

in·qui·si·tion

Audio Help [in-kwuh-zish-uh

n, ing-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	an official investigation, esp. one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.

2.	any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.

3.	the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.

4.	an investigation, or process of inquiry.

5.	a judicial or official inquiry.

6.	the finding of such an inquiry.

7.	the document embodying the result of such inquiry.

(initial capital letter

) Roman Catholic Church.

a.	a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy. Compare Holy Office.

b.	Spanish Inquisition.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME inquisicio(u)n < L inquīsītiōn- (s. of inquīsītiō), equiv. to inquīsīt(us) ptp. of inquīrere to inquire + -iōn- -ion

]

—Related forms

in·qui·si·tion·al, adjective

—Synonyms 5. inquest, hearing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
inquisition

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·qui·si·tion Audio Help (ĭn'kwĭ-zĭsh'ən, ĭng'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

The act of inquiring into a matter; an investigation. See Synonyms at inquiry.
Law
1. An inquest.
2. The verdict of a judicial inquiry.
3. Inquisition A tribunal formerly held in the Roman Catholic Church and directed at the suppression of heresy.
4. An investigation that violates the privacy or rights of individuals.
5. A rigorous, harsh interrogation.
1. Inquisition A tribunal formerly held in the Roman Catholic Church and directed at the suppression of heresy.
2. An investigation that violates the privacy or rights of individuals.
3. A rigorous, harsh interrogation.

[Middle English inquisicioun, from Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquīsītiō, inquīsītiōn-, from inquīsītus, past participle of inquīrere, to inquire; see inquire.]

in'qui·si'tion·al adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
inquisition

1382, "act or process of inquiring," from O.Fr. inquisition, from L. inquisitionem (nom. inquisitio) "a searching into, legal examination," from inquisitus, pp. of inquirere (see inquire). In Church history, inquisitors were appointed from 382 C.E. to root out heretics, and the Inquisition refers to the ecclesiastical court (Congregation of the Holy Office) appointed 13c. by Innocent III to suppress heresy. It never operated in Britain. The capital letter form appeared in Eng. only after 1502, and usually refers to the office's reorganization 1478-83 in Spain as what is commonly called the Spanish Inquisition.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

inquisition
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)

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Inquisition

A court established by the Roman Catholic Church in the thirteenth century to try cases of heresy and other offenses against the church. Those convicted could be handed over to the civil authorities for punishment, including execution.

Note: The Inquisition was most active in Spain, especially under Tomás de Torquemada; its officials sometimes gained confessions through torture. It did not cease operation in the Spanish Empire until the nineteenth century.

Note: By association, a harsh or unjust trial or interrogation may be called an “inquisition.”

[Chapter:] World History to 1550

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Inquisition

In`qui*si"tion\, n. [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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Inquisition

In`qui*si"tion\, v. t. To make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into. [Obs.] --Milton.

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