Inquisition
/ˌɪn.kwəˈzɪʃ.ən/noun
A formal investigation or inquiry, especially one that is severe or prolonged.
Did you know?Inquisition comes from Latin *inquisitio*, a neutral word for “a seeking into,” but it became permanently shadowed by the church courts that used investigation as a weapon of authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷes-
“to seek, ask, or desire”
Latin
Latin
quaerere
“to seek, ask for, or search”
Latin
Latin
inquirere
“to seek into, investigate, examine”
Late Latin
LL
inquisitio
“a searching into, examination, inquiry”
Old French
OF
inquisition
“inquiry, examination”
Middle English
English
inquisicioun
“an examination or formal inquiry”
Modern English
English
inquisition
“a formal or forceful investigation”