[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

inquiry \inquir"y\, n.; pl. inquiries. see inquire.
   written also enquiry.
   1. the act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking
      questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
      1913 webster

            he could no path nor track of foot descry,
            nor by inquiry learn, nor guess by aim. --spenser.
      1913 webster

            the men which were sent from cornelius had made
            inquiry for simon's house, and stood before the
            gate.                                 --acts x. 17.
      1913 webster

   2. search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination
      into facts or principles; research; investigation; as,
      physical inquiries.
      1913 webster

            all that is wanting to the perfection of this art
            will undoubtedly be found, if able men . . . will
            make inquiry into it.                 --dryden.
      1913 webster

   court of inquiry. see under court.

   writ of inquiry, a writ issued in certain actions at law,
      where the defendant has suffered judgment to pass against
      him by default, in order to ascertain and assess the
      plaintiff's damages, where they can not readily be
      ascertained by mere calculation. --burrill.

   syn: interrogation; interrogatory; question; query; scrutiny;
        investigation; research; examination.
        1913 webster
see also:
inquiries inquire enquiry court of inquiry court writ of inquiry 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

inquiry
     n 1: a search for knowledge; "their pottery deserves more
          research than it has received" syn: enquiry, research
     2: an instance of questioning; "there was a question about my
        training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were
        present" syn: question, enquiry, query, interrogation
        ant: answer
     3: a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
        syn: enquiry
see also:
enquiry research question query interrogation answer 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

78 moby thesaurus words for "inquiry":
   amassing evidence, assize, audit, bone of contention, canvass,
   catechism, catechizing, change of venue, check, close inquiry,
   consumer research, consumer-preference survey, court-martial,
   cross-examination, cross-interrogatory, cross-question,
   debating point, delving, demand, department of investigation,
   detection, detective work, enquiry, examination, exhaustive study,
   exploration, feeler, hearing, indagation, inquest, inquirendo,
   inquisition, inspection, interrogation, interrogative,
   interrogatory, investigation, investigative bureau, issue,
   jury trial, leader, leading question, legislative investigation,
   legwork, mistrial, moot point, opinion poll, perscrutation,
   point at issue, point in question, poll, probe, probing, problem,
   public-opinion poll, query, querying, quest, question,
   question at issue, question mark, questionary, questioning,
   questionnaire, quodlibet, research, scrutiny, search, sifting,
   sleuthing, study, survey, topic, trial, trial balloon,
   trial by jury, vexed question, witch-hunt

[4] : Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

inquiry, writ of. a writ of inquiry is one issued where a judgment has been 
entered in a case sounding in damages, without any particular amount being 
ascertained; this writ is for the purpose of ascertaining the amount to 
which the plaintiff is entitled. vide writ of inquiry. 

Inquiry >> I Words
Inquiry, definition of term: Inquiry
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