inquiry
UK[ɪnˈkwaɪəri]US[ˈɪnkwəri]
n
an official process to find out the cause of something or to gather information
n
a question intended to get information
Morpheme Breakdown
in
quire
y
in
into
quire
ask
y
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'inquiry' has a clear lineage from latin, entering english via old french. its core is built on the latin verb 'quaerere', meaning 'to seek, ask', which is also the source for related english words like 'query' and 'require'. the prefix 'in-' intensifies the action, giving the sense of 'seeking into' a matter. over time, the combination solidified in middle english to specifically denote the act of investigation or a formal question, moving from the literal act of asking to the more abstract processes of examination and research.
Analysis
Structure: in (into) + quire (ask) + y (noun suffix)
- in: a latin prefix meaning 'into, in, on, upon'.
- quire: from the latin root 'quaerere', meaning 'to ask, seek'. the spelling 'quire' is a direct substring of the english word.
- y: a noun-forming suffix of english origin, indicating a state, condition, or action.
Examples
the government has launched a public inquiry into the causes of the disaster.
i am making inquiries about the availability of tickets for the concert.
scientific inquiry is driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the natural world.