inquiry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A question or request for information.

   We received several inquiries about the new course.

2. 2
   noun

   An official investigation into something.

   The government ordered an inquiry into the disaster.

3. 3
   noun

   The act of searching for truth or knowledge; research.

   Scientific inquiry depends on careful observation.

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.

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