inquisition Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
  2. noun a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

WordNet

In`qui*si"tion noun
Etymology
L. inquisitio : cf. F. inquisition. See Inquire, and cf. Inquest.
Definitions
  1. The act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation.
    As I could learn through earnest inquisition. Latimer.
    Let not search and inquisition quail To bring again these foolish runaways. Shak.
  2. (Law) (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest. (b) The finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry. Bouvier.
    The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county. Blackstone.
  3. (R. C. Ch.) A court or tribunal for the examination and punishment of heretics, fully established by Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. Its operations were chiefly confined to Spain, Portugal, and their dependencies, and a part of Italy.
In`qui*si"tion transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into. Obs. Milton.

Webster 1913