Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-QUI-NA'TION, n.

The act of defiling, or state of being defiled; pollution; corruption. [Little used.] Bacon.

IN-QUIR'A-BLE, a. [from inquire.]

That may be inquired into; subject to inquisition or inquest. Bacon.

IN-QUIRE', v.t. [Fr. enquerir; Sp. inquirir; L. inquiro; in and quæro, to seek; Malayan, charee, to seek. See Acquire.]

1. To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by asking questions. We will call the damsel and inquire at her mouth. Gen. xxiv. It has of before the person asked. Inquire of them, or of him. It has of, concerning, or after, before the subject of inquiry. He sent Hadoram, his son, to king David to inquire of his welfare. 1 Chron. xviii. For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. Eccl. vii. When search is to be made for particular knowledge or information, it is followed by into. The coroner by jury inquires into the cause of a sudden death. When a place or person is sought, or something hid or missing, for is commonly used. Inquire for one Saul of Tarsus. He was inquiring for the house to which he was directed. Inquire for the cloke that is lost. Inquire for the right road. Sometimes it is followed by after. Inquire after the right way. When some general information is sought, this verb is followed by about; sometimes by concerning. His friends inquired about him; they inquired concerning his welfare.
2. To seek for truth by argument or the discussion of questions, or by investigation. To inquire into, to make examination; to seek for particular information. Inquire into the time, manner and place. Inquire into all the circumstances of the case.

IN-QUIRE', v.t.

To ask about; to seek by asking; as, he inquired the way; but the phrase is elliptical, for inquire for the way.

IN-QUIR'ED, pp.

Asked about; sought by asking.

IN-QUIR'ENT, a.

Making inquiry.

IN-QUIR'ER, n.

One who asks a question; one who interrogates; one who searches or examines; one who seeks for knowledge or information.

IN-QUIR'ING, a.

Given to inquiry; disposed to investigate causes; as, an inquiring mind.

IN-QUIR'ING, ppr.

Seeking for information by asking questions; asking; questioning; interrogating; examining.

IN-QUIR'ING-LY, adv.

By way of inquiry.

IN-QUI'RY, n. [Norm. enquerre, from querer, to inquire.]

1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation. The men who were sent from Cornelius, had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. Acts x.
2. Search for truth, information or knowledge; research; examination into facts or principles by proposing and discussing questions, by solving problems, by experiments or other modes; as, physical inquiries; inquiries about philosophical knowledge. Locke. The first inquiry of a rational being should be, who made me? the second, why was I made? who is my Creator, and what is his will? Anon.

IN-QUI-SI'TION, n. [s as z. Fr. from L. inquisitio, inquiro. See Inquire.]

1. Inquiry; examination; a searching or search. Ps. ix.
2. Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest. The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county. Blackstone.
3. Examination; discussion. Bacon.
4. In some Catholic countries, a court or tribunal established for the examination and punishment of heretics. This court was established in the twelfth century by father Dominic, who was charged by pope Innocent III. with orders to excite Catholic princes and people to extirpate heretics. Encyc.

IN-QUI-SI'TION-AL, a.

Making inquiry; busy in inquiry. Sterne.

IN-QUI-SI'TION-A-RY, a.

Inquisitional.

IN-QUIS'I-TIVE, a. [s as z.]

1. Apt to ask questions; addicted to inquiry; inclined to seek information by questions; followed by about or after. He was very inquisitive about or after news. Children are usually inquisitive.
2. Inclined to seek knowledge by discussion, investigation or observation; given to research. He possesses an inquisitive mind or disposition. We live in an inquisitive age.

IN-QUIS'I-TIVE, n.

A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. Temple.

IN-QUIS'I-TIVE-LY, adv.

With curiosity to obtain information; with scrutiny.

IN-QUIS'I-TIVE-NESS, n.

The disposition to obtain information by questioning others, or by researches into facts, causes or principles; curiosity to learn what is not known. The works of nature furnish ample matter for the inquisitiveness of the human mind.

IN-QUIS'I-TOR, n. [L. See Inquire.]

1. One who inquires; particularly, one whose official duty it is to inquire and examine. Dryden.
2. A member of the court of inquisition in Popish countries. Encyc.

IN-QUIS-I-TO'RI-AL, a.

1. Pertaining to inquisition; as, inquisitorial power.
2. Pertaining to the papal court of inquisition; as, inquisitorial tragedy. Encyc. Inquisitorial robes. Buchanan.

IN-QUIS-I-TO'RI-AL-LY, adv.

In an inquisitorial manner.

IN-QUIS-I-TO'RI-OUS, a.

Making strict inquiry. Milton.

IN-RAIL', v.t. [in and rail.]

To rail in; to inclose with rails. Hooker. Gay.

IN-RAIL'ED, pp.

Inclosed with rails.

IN-RAIL'ING, ppr.

Inclosing with rails.