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View synonyms for inquisition

inquisition

[ in-kwuh-zish-uhn, ing- ]

noun

  1. an official investigation, especially one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments.
  2. any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning.
  3. the act of inquiring; inquiry; research.
  4. an investigation, or process of inquiry.
  5. a judicial or official inquiry.

    Synonyms: hearing, inquest

  6. the finding of such an inquiry.
  7. the document embodying the result of such inquiry.
  8. (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church.
    1. a former special tribunal, engaged chiefly in combating and punishing heresy. Compare Holy Office.


Inquisition

1

/ ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

  1. history a judicial institution of the Roman Catholic Church (1232–1820) founded to discover and suppress heresy See also Spanish Inquisition


inquisition

2

/ ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of inquiring deeply or searchingly; investigation
  2. a deep or searching inquiry, esp a ruthless official investigation of individuals in order to suppress revolt or root out the unorthodox
  3. an official inquiry, esp one held by a jury before an officer of the Crown
  4. another word for inquest

Inquisition

  1. A court established by the Roman Catholic Church in the thirteenth century to try cases of heresy and other offenses against the church. Those convicted could be handed over to the civil authorities for punishment, including execution.


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Notes

The Inquisition was most active in Spain , especially under Tomás de Torquemada (see also Torquemada ); its officials sometimes gained confessions through torture. It did not cease operation in the Spanish Empire until the nineteenth century.
By association, a harsh or unjust trial or interrogation may be called an “inquisition.”

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Derived Forms

  • ˌinquiˈsitional, adjective
  • ˌinquiˈsitionist, noun

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Other Words From

  • inqui·sition·al adjective
  • prein·qui·sition noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of inquisition1

1350–1400; Middle English inquisicio ( u ) n < Latin inquīsītiōn- (stem of inquīsītiō ), equivalent to inquīsīt ( us ) past participle of inquīrere to inquire + -iōn- -ion

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Word History and Origins

Origin of inquisition1

C14: from legal Latin inquīsītiō, from inquīrere to seek for; see inquire

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Example Sentences

The state Senate that ordered the process is calling it an audit, and all the ballots are being recounted, but it’s not really an audit or a recount — it’s a partisan inquisition.

Strom’s vast sonic worlds called out for meditative inquisitions and influenced a new generation of artists creating impressionistic experimental and electronic music.

They will be subjected to inquisition, and will await resurrection in the grave like any normal Muslim.

In a meeting at the Vatican, Netanyahu and the pontiff talk Syria and Iran and Francis gets a book on the Spanish Inquisition.

Why is the agency getting what amounts to a free ride in the current inquisition?

The Armstrong-Winfrey inquisition continued Friday night, yielding these major bombshells.

“When you say ‘Christianity’ to Israelis they immediately think of the Holocaust and the [Spanish] Inquisition,” he told Haaretz.

When I was at Portugal, there was held at that time the court of justice of the Inquisition.

Philip Limborch died; a Dutch professor of divinity, and author of a history of the inquisition.

After an uncertain period of waiting, the orderly called "Gordon MacRae," and the inquisition began.

In the midst of their conjuring, the Inquisition came down upon them.

In 1726 he was denounced to the Inquisition for the offence of reading forbidden books.

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inquiryinquisitionist