I. ˈkwes(h)chən, ÷-eshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English questioun, from Middle French question, from Latin quaestion-, quaestio, from quaesitus, quaestus (past participle of quaerere to seek, ask) + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a.
(1) : an interrogative expression
ask questions about the candidates
— see rhetorical question
(2) : an interrogative sentence or clause
(3) : an interrogative expression used to test knowledge (as in a written or oral examination) — compare answer I 1b
b. : a subject or aspect that is in dispute, open for discussion, or to be inquired into : issue
the question whether or not the people of any time have ever considered their civilization with complete satisfaction — Virgil Jordan
the question of whether some form of verse is a necessary condition of poetry — Alice Bensen
the tariff question
raise the question of adequate financing
broadly : problem , matter
the question of how mankind will use the leisure — A.R.Sweezy
the question of buying a car
the questions of where one lives and of the nature and quality of the common life in which one participates — N.M.Pusey
composing is a question of paper and a pen full of ink — J.D.Cook
c.
(1) : a subject or point of debate or a proposition being or to be voted on in a meeting (as of a legislative body)
the question before the senate
(2) : the bringing of such a subject or proposal to a vote
loud cries for the question
put the matter to the question
— see previous question
d. : the specific point at issue or under discussion
a remark that was beside the question
e. : something the correctness or existence of which is open to doubt
no longer a question but an established fact
an open question whether the addition is an improvement
2.
a. : the action or an instance of asking : inquiry
a long glance of sulky question — William Sansom
this kind of division could not support very close question — T.S.Eliot
b. : examination with reference to a decisive result : interrogation ; specifically : a judicial or official investigation
c. : torture as part of an examination
he that was in question for the robbery — Shakespeare
searched for something or put him to the question — C.B.Child
d.
(1) : objection , dispute
obey without question
true beyond question
words that could without question be used — S.L.Payne
one question remains unanswered
(2) : room for doubt or objection
no question about the official's honesty
seemed little question that it would be able to count on government support — Collier's Year Book
there is no question but that there will be a general rise in wages — E.A.Lahey
(3) : possibility of or opportunity for a particular action : chance — used in negative constructions
there is no question of bypassing a statutory procedure — Current History
there was no question of refusing to sit on any of these committees — Andrzej Panufnik
no longer even any question of escape — John Farrelly
•
- in question
- into question
- out of question
- out of the question
II. verb
( questioned ; questioned ; questioning -es(h)chəniŋ, ÷ -esh(ə)n- ; questions )
Etymology: Middle French questionner, from question, n. — more at question I
transitive verb
1. : to ask a question of or about
questioned the Indians as to the river's name — American Guide Series: Minnesota
question the absence of a club member
2.
a. : to subject to judicial or police examination
question a suspect
b. : to call to account : accuse , charge
3.
a.
(1) : to express doubt about : demonstrate lack of conviction about : challenge , dispute
the honesty of these writers is unimpeachable, however much their competency may be questioned — Edward Clodd
(2) : to feel doubts about : doubt
questioned her wisdom in staying on the farm — E.T.Thurston
b. : to subject to analysis : examine , research , ponder , consider
Babylonian sages who questioned the stars in their efforts to measure time — W.K.Ferguson
no more accustomed to question language itself than to question the weather — Stuart Chase
intransitive verb
1. : to ask questions : inquire
2. obsolete : talk , converse , argue
Synonyms: see ask