What does inquisition mean?

Definitions for inquisition
ˌɪn kwəˈzɪʃ ən, ˌɪŋ-in·qui·si·tion

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word inquisition.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Inquisitionnoun

    a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy

  2. inquisitionnoun

    a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

Wiktionary

  1. inquisitionnoun

    an investigation or inquiry into the truth of some matter

  2. inquisitionnoun

    an inquest

  3. inquisitionnoun

    a questioning

  4. Inquisitionnoun

    a tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church set up to investigate and suppress heresy

  5. Inquisitionnoun

    a harsh or rigorous interrogation that violates the rights of an individual

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Inquisitionnoun

    Etymology: inquisition, Fr. inquisitio, Latin.

    When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Ps. ix. 12.

    We were willing to make a pattern or precedent of an exact inquisition. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    With much severity, and strict inquisition, were punished the adherents and aiders of the late rebels. Francis Bacon, Hen. VII.

    Though it may be impossible to recollect every failing, yet you are so far to exercise an inquisition upon yourself, as, by observing lesser particulars, you may the better discover what the corruption of your nature sways you to. Taylor.

    By your good leave,
    These men will be your judges: we must stand
    The inquisition of their raillery
    On our condition. Thomas Southerne.

    When inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out. 2 Esth. xxiii.

    One kiss of her's, and but eighteen words,
    Put quite down the Spanish inquisition. Corbet.

Wikipedia

  1. Inquisition

    The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy, conducting trials of suspected heretics. Studies of the records have found that the overwhelming majority of sentences consisted of penances, but convictions of unrepentant heresy were handed over to the secular courts, which generally resulted in execution or life imprisonment. The Inquisition had its start in the 12th-century Kingdom of France, with the aim of combating religious deviation (e.g. apostasy or heresy), particularly among the Cathars and the Waldensians. The inquisitorial courts from this time until the mid-15th century are together known as the Medieval Inquisition. Other groups investigated during the Medieval Inquisition, which primarily took place in France and Italy, include the Spiritual Franciscans, the Hussites, and the Beguines. Beginning in the 1250s, inquisitors were generally chosen from members of the Dominican Order, replacing the earlier practice of using local clergy as judges.During the Late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, the scope of the Inquisition grew significantly in response to the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. During this period, the Inquisition conducted by the Holy See was known as the Roman Inquisition. The Inquisition also expanded to other European countries, resulting in the Spanish Inquisition and the Portuguese Inquisition. The Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions focused particularly on the anusim (people who were forced to abandon Judaism against their will) and on Muslim converts to Catholicism. The scale of the persecution of converted Muslims and converted Jews in Spain and Portugal was the result of suspicions that they had secretly reverted to their previous religions, although both religious minority groups were also more numerous on the Iberian Peninsula than in other parts of Europe. During this time, Spain and Portugal operated inquisitorial courts not only in Europe, but also throughout their empires in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. This resulted in the Goa Inquisition, the Peruvian Inquisition, and the Mexican Inquisition, among others.With the exception of the Papal States, the institution of the Inquisition was abolished in the early 19th century, after the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and the Spanish American wars of independence in the Americas. The institution survived as part of the Roman Curia, but in 1908 it was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. In 1965, it became the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

ChatGPT

  1. inquisition

    An inquisition is an official investigation, particularly one of a political or religious nature, characterized by a lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments. Historically, it refers to a powerful organization within the Catholic Church that sought to suppress heresy.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Inquisitionnoun

    the act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation

  2. Inquisitionnoun

    judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest

  3. Inquisitionnoun

    the finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry

  4. Inquisitionnoun

    a court or tribunal for the examination and punishment of heretics, fully established by Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. Its operations were chiefly confined to Spain, Portugal, and their dependencies, and a part of Italy

  5. Inquisitionverb

    to make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into

  6. Etymology: [L. inquisitio : cf. F. inquisition. See Inquire, and cf. Inquest.]

Wikidata

  1. Inquisition

    The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the judicial system of the Roman Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy. It started in 12th-century France to combat the spread of religious sectarianism, in particular the Cathars and the Waldensians. This Medieval Inquisition persisted into the 14th century, from the 1250s associated with the Dominican Order. In the early 14th century, two other movements attracted the attention of the Inquisition, the Knights Templar and the Beguines. At the end of the Middle Ages, the concept and scope of the Inquisition was significantly expanded, now in the historical context of the turmoils of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Its geographic scope was expanded to other European countries, as well as throughout the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Its focus now came to include the persecution of sorcery, making it one of the agents in the Early Modern witch-hunts. The institution persisted after the end of the witch-trial period in the 18th century, but was abolished outside of the Papal States after the Napoleonic wars. The institution survives as part of the Roman Curia, but it was renamed to Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office in 1904.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Inquisition

    in-kwi-zish′un, n. an inquiring or searching for: investigation: judicial inquiry: a tribunal in the R.C. Church, called also 'the Holy Office,' for the discovery, repression and punishment of heresy, unbelief, and other offences against religion.—v.t. (Milt.), to investigate.—adjs. Inquisit′ional, making inquiry: relating to the Inquisition: Inquis′itive, searching into: apt to ask questions: curious.—adv. Inquis′itively.—ns. Inquis′itiveness; Inquis′itor, one who inquires: an official inquirer: a member of the Court of Inquisition.—adj. Inquisitō′rial.—adv. Inquisitō′rially.—n. Inquis′itress, an inquisitive woman.—adj. Inquisitū′rient (Milt.), inquisitorial.—Grand Inquisitor, the chief in a Court of Inquisition. [L. inquisition-em. See Inquire.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Inquisition

    an ecclesiastical tribunal established in 1248 under Pope Innocent IV., and set up successively in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the S. of France, for the trial and punishment of heretics, of which that established in Spain achieved the greatest notoriety from the number of victims it sacrificed, and the remorseless tortures to which they were subjected, both when under examination to extort confession and after conviction. The rigour of its action began to abate in the 17th century, but it was not till 1835, after frequent attempts to limit its power and suppress it, that it was abolished in Spain. Napoleon suppressed it in France in 1808, and after an attempted revival from 1814 to 1820, its operations there came to an end. St. Dominic (q. v.) has the credit of having invented the institution by the zeal which animated him for the orthodoxy of the Church.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of inquisition in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of inquisition in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of inquisition in a Sentence

  1. President Barack Obama:

    Remember that during the crusades and the inquisition people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.

  2. Jonathan Barnett:

    We want to make a statement. This is an inquisition, and we just feel like they are trying to dig up anything they can but that it's one-sided, we don't understand Liz Cheney and Adam. There's just a lot of frustration with the January 6 committee and we don't think there's any representation on the Republican side. We'd like to see [ House Minority Leader Kevin ] McCarthy take care of these issues, but it's something we feel we need to talk about.

  3. Roger Stone:

    After a two-year inquisition, the charges today related in no way to Russian collusion, WikiLeaks coordination or any other illegal act in connection with the 2016 campaign.

  4. Barack Obama:

    And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ, in our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ. Michelle and I returned from India — an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity — but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs — acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.

  5. Mike Berry:

    This guidance memo is one of the worst constitutional violations I’ve ever seen, and we’ve seen some doozies at First Liberty, this nothing less than a modern-day Inquisition. It demonstrates that the USCG’s real motivation is religious hostility.

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Translations for inquisition

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"inquisition." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/inquisition>.

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