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inquisitorial - 4 dictionary results

in⋅quis⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅al

   [in-kwiz-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to an inquisitor or inquisition.
2. exercising the office of an inquisitor.
3. Law.
a. pertaining to a trial with one person or group inquiring into the facts and acting as both prosecutor and judge.
b. pertaining to secret criminal prosecutions.
4. resembling an inquisitor in harshness or intrusiveness.
5. inquisitive; prying.
Origin:
1755–65; < ML inquīsītōri(us) (L inquīsītōr-, s. of inquīsītor inquisitor + -ius adj. suffix) + -al 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·quis·i·to·ri·al     (ĭn-kwĭz'ĭ-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Of, relating to, or having the function of an inquisitor.
  2. Law
    1. Relating to a trial in which one party acts as both prosecutor and judge.
    2. Relating to a criminal proceeding conducted in secrecy.

in·quis'i·to'ri·al·ly adv.
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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inquisitorial

adjective
1. especially indicating a form of prosecution in which proceedings are secret and the accused is questioned by a prosecutor who acts also as the judge [ant: accusatorial] 
2. marked by inquisitive interest; especially suggestive of an ecclesiastical inquisitor; "the press was inquisitorial to the point of antagonism"; "a practical police force with true inquisitorial talents"- Waldo Frank 
3. having the authority to conduct official investigations; "the inquisitorial power of the Senate" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Inquisitorial

In*quis`i*to"ri*al\, a. [Cf. F. inquisitorial.]

1. Pertaining to inquisition; making rigorous and unfriendly inquiry; searching; as, inquisitorial power. "Illiberal and inquisitorial abuse." --F. Blackburne.

He conferred on it a kind of inquisitorial and censorious power even over the laity, and directed it to inquire into all matters of conscience. --Hume.

2. Pertaining to the Court of Inquisition or resembling its practices. "Inquisitorial robes." --C. Buchanan.

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