noun judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest.
2. inquisition ·vt to make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into.
3. inquisition ·noun the finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry.
4. inquisition ·noun the act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation.
5. inquisition ·noun 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.