inquiry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research; investigation; inquest.

   Scientific inquiry

2. 2
   noun

   a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest

3. 3
   noun

   a search for knowledge

4. 4
   noun

   an instance of questioning

5. 5
   noun

   The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.

Etymology

From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inquīrō, composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Later respelled to conform to the original Latin spelling, as opposed to the Old French spelling.