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inquisitorial - 4 dictionary results
in⋅quis⋅i⋅to⋅ri⋅al
[in-kwiz-i-tawr-ee-uh
l, -tohr-]
–adjective
| 1. | of or pertaining to an inquisitor or inquisition. |
| 2. | exercising the office of an inquisitor. |
| 3. | Law.
|
| 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
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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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.
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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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
| 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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