Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “inquisition” come from?

Inquisition comes from Old French inquisicion, from Latin inquisitio, derived from Latin inquirere meaning to inquire or investigate, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ne.

inquisition (English): an investigation or inquiry into the truth of...

Definitions

  1. an investigation or inquiry into the truth of...

Ancestry of “inquisition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchinquisicion—
2Latininquisitiosearch, inquiry, examination, investigation;...
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “inquisition”

  • inquisitional
  • inquisitionally
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →