As a noun inquiry
is the act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
As a verb inquired is
(inquire).
inquiry
Alternative forms
* enquiry
Noun
(inquiries)
The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
Search for truth, information, or knowledge; examination of facts or principles; research; investigation; as, physical inquiries.
Usage notes
According to Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (1926), ''inquiry'' should be used in relation to a formal inquest, and ''enquiry'' to the act of questioning. Many (though not all) British writers maintain this distinction; the Oxford English Dictionary, in its entry not updated since 1900, lists ''inquiry'' and ''enquiry'' as equal alternatives, in that order. Some British dictionaries, such as ''Chambers 21st Century Dictionary'' [http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/features/chref/chref.py/main?title=21st&query=inquiry], present the two spellings as interchangeable variants in the general sense, but prefer ''inquiry'' for the "formal inquest" sense. In Australian English, ''inquiry'' represents a formal inquest (such as a government investigation) while ''enquiry'' is used in the act of questioning (eg: the customer enquired about the status of his loan application). Both spellings are current in Canadian English, where ''enquiry'' is often associated with scholarly or intellectual research. (See Pam Peters, ''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage , p. 282.)
American English usually uses inquiry .
References
*
inquired
English
Verb
(head)
(inquire)
inquire
English
Alternative forms
* enquire (chiefly British)
Verb
(intransitive'' or ''transitive )
(lb) To ask (about something).
To make an inquiry or an investigation.
*
*:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day.A strong man—a strong one; and a heedless." ¶ "Of what party is he?" she inquired , as though casually.
Usage notes
* In British English, the spelling enquire' is more common, with '''inquire''' often reserved for official inquests. In Canada and the US, both spellings are acceptable, though ' inquire is favored.
Synonyms
* (l)
Related terms
* inquiry
* query
Derived terms
* inquire after
* inquire of
