query
UK[ˈkwɪəri]US[ˈkwɪri]
n
a question, especially one asking for information or expressing doubt about something
v
to ask a question or express doubt about something
Etymology
The word 'query' originates from the Latin verb 'quaerere', meaning 'to seek, ask, inquire'. This Latin root is also the source of related English words such as 'quest', 'question', and 'inquiry'. In the 17th century, 'query' was adopted into English from the Latin legal phrase 'quaere', used to introduce a question or doubt in formal documents. Over time, it evolved from a formal, written imperative into a general noun and verb for posing a question or expressing uncertainty, retaining its core semantic link to the act of seeking information.
Analysis
The word 'query' is a simplex form. It entered English as a direct borrowing from Latin, where 'quaere' was the imperative form of 'quaerere' meaning 'to ask, seek'. It functions as a unified lexical item.
Examples
The database processed the user's search query in milliseconds.
I would like to query the figures presented in the third paragraph of the report.
His strange behavior raised a query among his colleagues.