inquisition

[ in-kwuh-zish-uhn, ing- ]
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noun
  1. an official investigation, especially 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.

  1. the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.

  2. an investigation, or process of inquiry.

  3. a judicial or official inquiry.

  4. the finding of such an inquiry.

  5. the document embodying the result of such inquiry.

  6. (initial capital letter)Roman Catholic Church.

Origin of inquisition

1
1350–1400; Middle English inquisicio(u)n<Latin inquīsītiōn- (stem of inquīsītiō), equivalent to inquīsīt(us) past participle of inquīrere to inquire + -iōn--ion

Other words for inquisition

Other words from inquisition

  • in·qui·si·tion·al, adjective
  • pre·in·qui·si·tion, noun

Words Nearby inquisition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inquisition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inquisition (1 of 2)

inquisition

/ (ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən) /


noun
  1. the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation

  2. a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox

  1. an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown

  2. another word for inquest (def. 2)

Origin of inquisition

1
C14: from legal Latin inquīsītiō, from inquīrere to seek for; see inquire

Derived forms of inquisition

  • inquisitional, adjective
  • inquisitionist, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Inquisition (2 of 2)

Inquisition

/ (ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən) /


noun
  1. history a judicial institution of the Roman Catholic Church (1232–1820) founded to discover and suppress heresy: See also Spanish Inquisition

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Inquisition

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.

Notes for Inquisition

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

Notes for Inquisition

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

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.