investigate
[ɪnˈvɛs.tɪ.ɡeɪ̯t] verb
Forms investigates investigating investigated
- verb (transitive) To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information. “to investigate the causes of natural phenomena”
- verb (transitive) To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret. “to investigate an unsolved murder”
- verb (intransitive) To conduct an inquiry or examination.
Synonyms
Etymology
Recorded since circa 1510, a back-formation from investigation on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix), from Latin investīgātiō (“a searching into”), from investīgātus, the perfect passive participle of investīgō, equivalent to in- + vestigate. Displaced native Old English undersēċan (literally “to search under or between”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or observation; to trace or track mentally; to search into; to inquire and examine into with care and accuracy; to find out by careful inquisition; as, to investigate the causes of natural phenomena.
- verb To pursue a course of investigation and study; to make investigation.
Etymology [L. investigatus, p. p. of investigare to investigate; pref. in- in + vestigare to track, trace. See Vestige.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “investigate”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details