| 释义 |
in·qui·si·tion
I. \ˌinkwəˈzishən\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English inquisicioun, from Middle French inquisition, from Latin inquisition-, inquisitio, from inquisitus (past participle of inquirere to inquire) + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act or an instance of inquiring : inquiry, search, examination, investigation
< nominated himself for this delicate inquisition — S.H.Adams >
< proposed a brief inquisition into the politics of the place — John Buchan >
2. : a judicial or official inquiry or examination usually before a jury (as for ascertaining taxable property or for fixing the guilt of nuisances); also : the finding of such a jury or the document on which it is recorded
3. [Medieval Latin inquisition-, inquisitio, from Latin]
a. usually capitalized : a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical tribunal especially of medieval times and the early modern period having as its primary objective the discovery, punishment, and prevention of heresy; specifically : an ecclesiastical tribunal set up in Spain under state control in 1478-80 with the object of proceeding against lapsed converts from Judaism, crypto-Jews, and other apostates that was marked by the extreme severity of its proceedings
b. : an official inquiry or investigation conducted with little or no regard for individual rights or characterized by undue harshness, bias, or hostility on the examiner's part
< his inquisitions were backed by the authority of the United States government — Elmer Davis >
< the whole notion of loyalty inquisitions is a natural characteristic of the police state — New Republic >
c. : a severe or searching questioning : the ordeal of such a questioning : grilling
< pushed toward the edge by the inquisitions of the psychiatrists — Time >
< mumbled my way … through these inquisitions — Adrian Bell >
Synonyms: see inquiry
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
intransitive verb
: to make inquisition or inquiry
transitive verb
: to subject to inquisitional examination |