inquisition

/ˌɪŋkwɪˈzɪʃən/

Etymology

From Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquisitio, from inquirere. The sense implying persecution is influenced by the name of the Spanish Inquisition, which is a cardinal exemplar of government inquisitions that give inquisitions a bad name.

inquisition means A tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church set up to investigate and suppress heresy. Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 60 out of 100.

Why this word is great

INQUISITION — [Noun] A rigorous, often harsh and persecutory, investigation or interrogation, especially one conducted by a religious or judicial authority. From Middle English inquisicioun, from Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquisitio ("investigation, inquiry"), from inquirere ("to inquire into"). Unlike "inquiry" (a neutral, open-ended quest) or "investigation" (a systematic, objective examination), an inquisition is dogma armed with questions—a process where the conclusion precedes the evidence. It is the cold, relentless question in a windowless room, the scent of fear and burning parchment, and the sterile ledger logging extracted confessions—the administrative machinery of absolute certainty grinding the human spirit to dust.

name

A tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church set up to investigate and suppress heresy.“We know from history that the Catholic Church has historically murdered, mutilated, castrated, maimed, imprisoned and flogged homosexuals. Catholic atrocities during the Inquisition are well documented and cannot be denied. The Church no longer does those things to homosexuals, but it violates their human rights in other ways.”
A harsh or rigorous interrogation that violates one’s rights.

noun

An inquiry or investigation into the truth of some matter.“But as farrefoorth as I coulde learne, through earneſt inquiſition I thoughte in my conſcience the woman was not gilty, all the circumſtances well conſydered.”
An inquiry or investigation into the truth of some matter.; Such an investigation that is asserted to be persecutory by its adversaries.
An inquest.
A questioning.
The finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry.“The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.”

verb

To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into.“And in their name I shall for neither friend nor foe conceal what the general murmur is ; that if it come to inquisitioning again”