inquiring
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inquire after sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to ask about the health or well-being of: She inquired after his mother's health/after his mother.
inquire into sthg. phr v [T] to make a search or inquiry into, in order to discover information; INVESTIGATE: The court ordered the council to inquire into the conduct of the two officers.
inquire sthg. of sbdy. phr v [T] fml to ask (someone) about (something): [+wh-] I must inquire of you where you obtained this money, sir.
in·quir-ing, en- /ɪnˈkwaərɪŋ/ adj. 1 [A] as if asking a question: an inquiring look 2 apprec showing an interest in knowing about things: She has a very inquiring mind. —~ly adv: He looked at me inquiringly.
in·quir-y, en- /ɪnˈkwaɪərɪ||ˈɪŋkwəri, ɪnˈkwaəri/ n 1 [C;U(into, about)] (an act of) inquiring: We made some inquiries into her movements/into what she had done on that day. | After months of fruitless inquiry we finally discovered the truth. 2 [C(into)] an attempt to find out the reason for something or how something happened, usually in the form of official meetings and other actions: a government inquiry into the air crash | to conduct a public inquiry 3 helping the police with their inquiries BrE being held and questioned by the police about a crime, but not yet officially charged with the crime. This phrase is used especially by the media: Two people were shot dead by a gunman in central Birmingham today. A man is helping the police with their inquiries.
Enquiry and inquiry are almost exactly the same. Inquiry is more often used for a long serious study: an inquiry into the diseases caused by smoking.
inˈquiry ,agent ///… ,… ,…/ n BrE a PRIVATE DETECTIVE
in·qui-si·tion /ˌɪŋkwɪˈzɪʃən/ n usually derog an inquiry, especially one that is carried out with little regard for the rights of the people being questioned: I was subjected to a lengthy inquisition by the tax inspector.
Inquisition, the an official Roman Catholic organization which tried to find and punish HERETICS (=people with unacceptable religious beliefs) during the MIDDLE AGES, and which is known for the cruel ways that it tortured (TORTURE) and killed people. The most famous part of the organization was the Spanish Inquisition, led in the 15th century by Tomás de TORQUEMADA.
in·quis-i-tive /ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv/ adj often derog (of a person or their behaviour) trying to find out (too many) details about things and people: Don't be so inquisitive! —~ly adv: He peeped inquisitively into the drawer. —~ness n [U]
in·quis-i-tor /ɪnˈkwɪzɪtə/ n 1 usually derog a person making an inquisition: My inquisitor considered my answer for a moment. 2 (often cap.) (in former times) an officer of the Inquisition, especially one who is very cruel when making an inquiry → see also TORQUEMADA
in·quis-i-to-ri-al /ɪnˌkwɪzɪˈtɔːriəl/ adj fml usually derog like or typical of an inquisitor —~ly adv
in·quo·rate /ɪnˈkwɔːrɪt/ adj tech (of a meeting) not having enough people present, so that it cannot officially be held
in re /ɪn ˈriː/ prep regarding; concerning; RE (used mostly in business letters but sometimes in speech)
in·res-i-dence adj [after n] being officially connected with an organization in the stated position: She was made poet-in-residence at the university, and worked with the students for a year.
in·roads /ˈɪnrəʊdz/ also inroad sing. — n [(on, upon, in, into)] 1 an attack upon or advance into a new area, especially one held by an enemy or competitor: The company is starting to make inroads into the lucrative soft-drinks market. → compare INCURSION 2 an effort or activity that lessens the quantity or difficulty of something: The long illness made (serious) inroads on his savings. | We're beginning to make some inroads into changing people's attitude towards unemployment. (=people are beginning to change their way of thinking)
in·rush /ˈɪnrʌʃ/ n [C usually sing.] a sudden flow of something that enters a place: An inrush of fresh air filled the room.
INS, the /ˌaɪ en ˈes/ abbrev. for IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
in·sa·lu·bri·ous /ˌɪnsəˈluːbriəs/ adj fml unhealthy: an insalubrious climate