inquest
/ˈɪŋkwɛst/ noun
Forms inquests enquest
- noun A formal investigation, often held before a jury, especially one into the cause of a death
- noun An inquiry, typically into an undesired outcome
- noun The jury hearing such an inquiry, and the result of the inquiry
- noun (rare, obsolete) enquiry; quest; search
- noun (by extension, criminal law, Philippines) Prosecutorial proceeding on whether or not a warrantless arrestee is charged with an offense.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English enquest, from Old French enqueste (Modern French enquête), from Vulgar Latin inquirere, or from Medieval Latin inquesta < in + Latin quaesita.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Inquiry; quest; search. [R.] Spenser.
- noun (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination, esp. before a jury; as, a coroner's inquest in case of a sudden death.
Etymology [OE. enqueste, OF. enqueste, F. enquête, LL. inquesta, for inquisita, fr. L. inquisitus, p.p. of inquirere. See Inquire.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “inquest”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details