inquest
[in-kwest]
- a legal or judicial inquiry, usually before a jury, especially an investigation made by a coroner into the cause of a death.
- the body of people appointed to hold such an inquiry, especially a coroner's jury.
- the decision or finding based on such inquiry.
- an investigation or examination.
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Origin of inquest
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for inquest
Contemporary Examples
That is a fact recorded by the doctor in charge of the ambulance at the inquest.
At last month's inquest, Coroner Fiona Wilcox concluded Mrs Saldanha had taken her own life.
He told senior officials that an inquest was not powerful enough to handle the kind of allegations he needed to explore.
At an inquest in May, DCI Paul Fotheringham of Kent Police said recent heroin use was likely to have played a role in her death.
Peaches Geldof died of a heroin overdose,an inquest heard today.
Historical Examples
The twentieth brought a button-hole, and over this the inquest was held.
Firstly, to observe that the Inquest was not held in that place, but at some distance off.
The Uncommercial TravellerCharles Dickens
Then, after the inquest, I shall give an order that everything in the attic is to be destroyed.
Jennie Baxter, JournalistRobert Barr
An inquest had been held upon his remains some days before, and he had been buried by the parish.
Henry DunbarM. E. Braddon
But as to Brigmawl at an inquest, he's about as much good as the Pope of Rome.'
Henry DunbarM. E. Braddon
inquest
- an inquiry into the cause of an unexplained, sudden, or violent death, or as to whether or not property constitutes treasure trove, held by a coroner, in certain cases with a jury
- informal any inquiry or investigation
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Word Origin
C13: from Medieval Latin inquēsta, from Latin in- ² + quaesītus investigation, from quaerere to examine
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for inquest
n.
late 13c., an-queste "legal or judicial inquiry," from Old French enqueste "inquiry," from Vulgar Latin *inquaestia (cf. Italian inchiesta), from fem. past participle of Vulgar Latin *inquirere "inquire" (see inquire).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
inquest
(ĭn′kwĕst′)- A legal inquiry into the cause of violent or mysterious death.
- The finding based on such an inquiry.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.