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inquisition Definition

in·qui·si·tion (in′kwə zis̸hən)

noun

  1. the act of inquiring; investigation
  2. R.C.Ch.
    1. a former general tribunal established in the 13th cent. for the discovery and suppression of heresy and the punishment of heretics
    2. the activities of this tribunal
    1. any harsh or arbitrary suppression or punishment of dissidents or nonconformists
    2. any severe or intensive questioning
  3. Law
    1. an inquest or any judicial inquiry
    2. the written finding of such an inquiry

Etymology: ME inquicisioun < OFr inquisition < L inquisitio < inquisitus, pp. of inquirere

inquisition Related Forms
in′·qui·si·tional adjective
inquisition Synonyms

inquisition

n.

inquisition Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • expect: Session 7: " I Didn't Expect the Spanish Inquisition!
  • face: Julian Jebb, Evelyn Waugh: Facing the Inquisition, The London Times Saturday Review, December 23, 1967, p. 19.
  • take: By an Inquisition taken at Retford, 14 October 4 H. 8. it appears that William Vavasor dyed 28 Apr.
  • hold: It was later the subject of an Inquisition held at Shoreham by the King's Escheator for Sussex.
  • have: This is why the Roman Catholic Church has had an Inquisition.
  • follow: There followed the inquisition and I had to confess to having known more about their subject in my teens than they did now.

Converse of subject

  • find: It was found by inquisition that he had temporalities taxed at 50 s.
  • imprison: But in 1778 da Cunha was imprisoned by the Inquisition.

Noun used with modifier

  • mortem: The court post mortem inquisition stated that " John Fytche is son and next heir of the same William.

Preposition: post

  • mortem: Extents attached to inquisitions post mortem are in the National Archives, which has an online guide to inquisitions post mortem.

Adjective modifier

  • Spanish: Not unlike the Spanish Inquisition of the Dark Ages.
  • new: It shows how near the new inquisition has got in America.
  • dreaded: The last thing that Europe needs is a religious movement which would have alarming similarities with the dreaded inquisition.
  • infamous: In the 5th century central government moved there & was subsequently the birthplace of the infamous Spanish Inquisition.

Preposition: on

  • body: October 2 nd 1784 Inquisition on the body of Ann Neville of Bures St Mary who in the state of lunacy, hanged herself.

Modifies a noun

  • mortem: Her inquisition post mortem was held by virtue of a writ issued on 16 May 1236.
  • post: Her inquisition post mortem was held by virtue of a writ issued on 16 May 1236.

Possessives

  • coroner: Coroner's inquisitions were also called when the cause of death was uncertain.

Preposition: of

  • land: On 24 Nov 1268, an inquisition of the lands late of John de Balliol recorded a market at Driffield.

Preposition: for

  • blood: What an awfully solemn title of God is this: " He that maketh inquisition for blood " ( Ps. ix.
inquisition Quotes

Christianity is really a man's religion: there's not much in it for women except docility, obedience, who-sweeps- the-room-as-for-thy-cause, downcast eyes and death in childbirth. For the men it's better: all power and money and fine robes, the burning of the hereticsöfun, fun, fun!öand the Inquisition fulminating from the pulpit.

—Weldon, Fay originally Franklin Birkinshaw

At Flores in the Azores Sir Richard Grenville lay, And a pinnace, like a fluttered bird, came flying from far away: 'Spanishships of warat sea! Wehavesighted fifty-three!' Then sware Lord Thomas Howard: ''Fore God I am no coward; But I cannot meetthem here, for my ships are out of gear, And the half my men are sick. I must fly, but followquick. Wearesix ships oftheline; canwefight withfifty-three?' Then spake Sir Richard Grenville: 'I know you are no coward; You fly them for a moment to fight with them again. But I've ninety men and more that are lying sick ashore. I should count myself the coward if I left them, my Lord Howard, To these Inquisition dogs and the devildoms of Spain.' So Lord Howard passed away with five ships of war that day, Till he melted like a cloud in the silent summer heaven.

—Tennyson

Browse dictionary entries near inquisition

  1. inquiry
  2. inquiring
  3. inquire
  4. inquiline
  5. inquietude
  6. inquest jury
  7. inquest
  8. Input Validation, Omitting
  9. input/output
  10. input
  1. inquisitionist
  2. inquisitive
  3. inquisitor
  4. inquisitorial
  5. INRI
  6. INRIA
  7. inroad
  8. inrush
  9. ins
  10. insalivate