enquiry
UK[ɪnˈkwaɪəri]US[ˈɪnkwəri, ɪnˈkwaɪəri]
n
an act of asking for information
n
an official process to find out the cause of something
Morpheme Breakdown
en
quir
y
en
in, into
quir
ask, seek
y
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'enquiry' has a clear lineage tracing back to the Latin verb 'quaerere,' meaning "to seek, ask, or inquire." The prefix 'en-' (from Latin 'in-') was added in Old French, intensifying the action to mean "to seek into" or "to investigate." This composite form entered Middle English as 'enqueren.' The noun 'enquiry' was subsequently formed by appending the suffix '-y,' which denotes the action or result of the verb. Thus, the literal construction of "putting oneself into seeking" elegantly evolved into the modern abstract meanings of an act of asking for information or a formal investigation.
Analysis
Structure: en (in, into) + quir (ask, seek) + y (noun suffix)
- en: A prefix of Latin origin (from 'in-'), meaning "in, into, on." In this word, it serves as an intensifier.
- quir: A root of Latin origin (from 'quaerere'), meaning "to ask, seek."
- y: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (via Old French '-ie'), indicating a state, condition, or activity.
Examples
I made an enquiry about the train schedule.
The committee launched a public enquiry into the matter.
Thank you for your enquiry; we will respond shortly.