inquest Hear it!

inquest Definition

in·quest (in′kwest′)

noun

  1. a judicial inquiry, as a coroner's investigation of a death
  2. the jury or group holding such an inquiry
  3. the verdict of such an inquiry

Etymology: ME enqueste < OFr < VL *inquaesita, fem. pp. of *inquaerere: see inquire

inquest Synonyms

inquest

n.

investigation, hearing, inquiry; see examination 1, trial 2.

inquest Law Definition

n

  1. An inquiry into a suspicious death conducted by a coroner or medical examiner.
  2. An inquiry into a particular subject matter by a special jury.
  3. A judge’s determination of damages after a defendant’s default.
inquest Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • adjourn: On Wednesday afternoon an adjourned inquest took place at the Canning Inn, Fenton on the victims that had been recovered.
  • reopen: Eventually, the shoot-to-kill inquest reopened on 5 May 1992.
  • hold: Even more curious was the secret inquest held in Newport in 1943 on a 14 year old boy killed by mustard gas.
  • tell: The two marksmen had earlier told the inquest they were in fear of their lives.
  • conduct: He or she would have an original jurisdiction to conduct an inquest in cases of particular public interest or concern.
  • hear: The inquest heard that Carney had driven through a 30mph zone at 80mph.

Preposition: on

  • body: An inquest on the body was held on Tuesday at the London Hospital by Mr Wynne Baxter coroner for east London.

Adjective modifier

  • subsequent: The jury in the subsequent inquest returned a verdict of " accidental death " .
  • fresh: A fresh inquest is to be held into the death of a young nurse.
  • second: In November 2004 CPS received the evidence and transcript from the second inquest.
  • original: New forensic evidence obtained following the British inquest casts doubt on the validity of the original inquest 's findings.

Preposition: into

  • death: Coroner holds inquest into death of Siamese twin ' Jodie ' .
  • shooting: His wife Annie testified at the Inquest into the fatal shootings that he would have been 46 " on the morrow " .

Modifies a noun

  • verdict: She hopes to have the original inquest verdict on her son quashed, allowing a new hearing to take place.
  • jury: The inquest jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today.
  • proceeding: Then the Judge had some things to say about the inquest proceedings.
  • procedure: And where did that leave the normal inquest procedure, as even that wasn't followed?

Noun used with modifier

  • coroner: In each case a coroners inquest was carried out.
  • treasure: If he intends to hold a treasure inquest the coroner is required to inform the Department of the Environment.

Possessives

  • coroner: The coroner's inquest found a verdict of murder in the first degree!
inquest Quotes

They come together like the Coroner's Inquest, to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week.

—Congreve,William