HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of Inquisition | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C2 Standard
ˌɪŋkwɪˈzɪʃən

Definitions

  1. An inquiry or investigation into the truth of some matter.
  2. A tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church set up to investigate and suppress heresy.
  3. Such an investigation that is asserted to be persecutory by its adversaries.
  4. A harsh or rigorous interrogation that violates one’s rights.
  5. An inquest.
  6. A questioning.
  7. The finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry.

Equivalents

Examples

“But as farrefoorth as I coulde learne, through earneſt inquiſition I thoughte in my conſcience the woman was not gilty, all the circumſtances well conſydered.”
“Let not search and inquisition quail / To bring again these foolish runaways.”
“The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.”
“We know from history that the Catholic Church has historically murdered, mutilated, castrated, maimed, imprisoned and flogged homosexuals. Catholic atrocities during the Inquisition are well documented and cannot be denied. The Church no longer does those things to homosexuals, but it violates their human rights in other ways.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

Learn this word in context

See Inquisition used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free