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.

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.

2. The jury hearing such an inquiry, and the result of the inquiry.
3. (rare, obsolete) Enquiry; quest; search.
   • South

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Edmund Spenser to this entry?)

• inquisition

• inquisitor
• inquisition

• questin