inquiry

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a search for knowledge
  2. noun an instance of questioning
  3. noun a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest

Etymology

From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inquīrō, composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Later respelled to conform to the original Latin spelling, as opposed to the Old French spelling.

In classic literature

Synonyms

enquiry, research

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
problem solving
Narrower (hyponyms)
poll, nature study, probe, experiment, heraldry, empirical research

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