/ ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
the Inquisition [ sing. ] the organization set up by the Roman Catholic Church to punish people who opposed its beliefs, especially from the 15th to the 17th century
2.
[ C ] ( formal or humorous ) a series of questions that sb asks you, especially when they ask them in an unpleasant way
—see also Spanish Inquisition
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting a searching examination): via Old French from Latin inquisitio(n-) examination, from the verb inquirere (based on quaerere seek).