inquest

• (obsolete) enquest

From Middle English enquest, from Old French enqueste (Modern French enquête), from Vulgar Latin inquirere, or from Medieval Latin inquesta < in + Latin quaesita.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪŋkwɛst/

• Audio (Southern England)

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inquest (plural inquests)

1. A formal investigation, often held before a jury, especially one into the cause of a death
   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 4, in The Dust of Conflict‎:

     The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected.

   • 2021 August 25, Christian Wolmar, “Croydon tram crash: the questions haven't been answered”, in RAIL, number 938, page 58:

     However, the 'accidental death' verdict of the jury in the inquest into the Croydon tram accident of November 2016 is the latest episode in a saga that seems likely to prevent the full story of this eminently preventable disaster from ever being exposed.

2. An inquiry, typically into an undesired outcome
3. The jury hearing such an inquiry, and the result of the inquiry
4. (rare, obsolete) enquiry; quest; search
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC:

     the laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul must make after science

   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     Hauing of late by diligent inquest,
     Prouided him a sword of meanest sort

• inquisition

• mental inquest warrant

• inquisitor
• inquisition

• questin