noun inquiry; quest; search.
2. inquest ·noun the finding of the jury upon such inquiry.
3. inquest ·noun judicial inquiry; official examination, ·esp. before a jury; as, a coroner's inquest in case of a sudden death.
4. inquest ·noun a body of men assembled under authority of law to inquire into any matterm civil or criminal, particularly any case of violent or sudden death; a jury, particularly a coroner's jury. the grand jury is sometimes called the grand inquest. ·see under grand.