(ˌ)in|kwizə|tōrēəl, -|tȯr- adjective
1.
a. : of or relating to an ecclesiastical inquisitor : having the functions of such an inquisitor
with royal and inquisitorial authorities on the watch for him — G.C.Boyce
b. : like or typical of an ecclesiastical inquisitor: as
(1) : heedless of or flouting individual rights in seeking information or enforcing conformity
(2) : marked by extreme harshness or cruelty
a practical police force with true inquisitorial talents — Waldo Frank
beyond discovery by the most inquisitorial and powerful methods — J.M.Keynes
c. : offensively searching or importunate in inquiry : prying
felt the press inquisitorial to the point of antagonism — New York Times
questioned them in his inquisitorial way — Carleton Beals
2. : constituting or relating to a system of criminal procedure in which the judge also acts as prosecutor or in which the proceedings are secretly conducted and the accused must answer questions
3. : relating to or having the authority to conduct official investigations
the inquisitorial power of the Senate is … of the highest importance — Lindsay Rogers
an inquisitorial agency
— contrasted with accusatorial
• in·quis·i·to·ri·al·ly -əlē, -li adverb
• in·quis·i·to·ri·al·ness noun -es