Inquisition

n.	1.	The act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation. As I could learn through earnest inquisition. - Latimer. Let not search and inquisition quail To bring again these foolish runaways. - Shak.
	2.	(Law) Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest. The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county. - Blackstone.
	3.	(R. C. Ch.) A court or tribunal for the examination and punishment of heretics, fully established by Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. Its operations were chiefly confined to Spain, Portugal, and their dependencies, and a part of Italy.
v. t.	1.	To make inquisition concerning; to inquire into.

Noun	1.	Inquisition - a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
	2.	inquisition - a severe interrogation (often violating the rights or privacy of individuals)

INQUISITION, practice. An examination of certain facts by a jury impanelled by the sheriff for the purpose; the instrument of writing on which their decision is made is also called an inquisition. The sheriff or coroner and the jury who make the inquisition, are called the inquest.
     2. An inquisition on an untimely death, if omitted by the coroner, may be taken by justices of gaol delivery and oyer and terminer. or of the peace, but it must be done publicly and openly, otherwise it will be quashed. Inquisitions either of the coroner, or of the other jurisdictions, are traversable. 1 Burr. 18, 19.

Areopagus, analysis, assize, board, change of venue, council, court-martial, cross-examination, cross-interrogation, cross-questioning, curia, delving, direct examination, examination, forum, grilling, hearing, inquest, inquirendo, inquiring, inquiring mind, inquiry, investigation, judicatory, judicature, judiciary, jury trial, mistrial, police interrogation, probe, probing, quest, redirect examination, research, the Inquisition, the grill, third-degree, trial, trial by jury, tribunal