inquest
inquest Lexical Profile
inquest Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An official judicial inquiry, typically conducted by a coroner or medical examiner with or without a jury, to determine the cause and circumstances of a sudden, unexplained, or violent death.
"The coroner's inquest concluded that the mountaineer's death was the result of an accidental fall."
British A thorough discussion or critical analysis held after an event, such as an election or sporting match, to examine why it failed or went wrong.
"Party leaders held a lengthy inquest into their unexpected defeat in the local elections."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 13th century from Old French enqueste ('inquiry'), from Vulgar Latin inquaesta, an alteration of Classical Latin inquisita (res), meaning '(a matter) inquired into', from the verb inquirere ('to seek into').