investigation
UK[ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn]US[ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn]
n
the act or process of examining a crime, problem, statement, etc. carefully, especially to discover the truth
n
a formal or official examination or research, especially one that seeks facts to determine what happened
Morpheme Breakdown
in
vestig
ation
in
vestig
ation
Etymology
The word 'investigation' originates from the Latin verb 'investigare', meaning "to track, trace out, search into". This verb itself is composed of 'in-' (into) and 'vestigare' (to track, trace), derived from 'vestigium' (footprint, track). The core logic is vividly metaphorical: to follow the footprints or traces of something in order to uncover it. Over time, this literal sense of physical tracking evolved into the modern abstract meaning of a systematic and careful inquiry to discover facts or truth. The suffix '-ation' was added through Old French, solidifying its role as a noun denoting the process or act of such detailed searching.
Analysis
Structure: in + vestig + ation
- in (Latin): A prefix meaning "in, into, on".
- vestig (Latin): A root from 'vestigium', meaning "footprint, track, trace".
- ation (Latin via French): A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process.
Examples
The police have launched an investigation into the robbery.
A thorough investigation revealed the cause of the technical failure.
The committee's investigation concluded that no rules were broken.