inquire

English Online Dictionary. What means inquire‎? What does inquire mean?

English

Alternative forms

• enquire (chiefly British)

Etymology

From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“I seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Displaced Middle English enqueren (from Old French enquerre, of the same source) and native Middle English speir (“ask, inquire”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkwaɪə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkwaɪɹ/
• Hyphenation: in‧quire
• Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)

Verb

inquire (third-person singular simple present inquires, present participle inquiring, simple past and past participle inquired) (transitive, intransitive)

1. (intransitive, US, Canada, Australia) To ask (about something).
2. (intransitive) To make an inquiry or an investigation.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To call; to name.

Usage notes

• The spelling inquire is more common, especially in American English, but also in British English. Some authorities assert that a distinction is made in the UK, with enquire being used for a non-official enquiry, and inquire being used in legal or government contexts; in the US, Canada, an Australia, this distinction is not made and inquire is used generally.

Synonyms

• frain (dialect or obsolete)

Derived terms

• inquire after
• inquire of

Related terms

Translations

References

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /inˈkʷiː.re/, [ɪŋˈkʷiːrɛ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /inˈkwi.re/, [iŋˈkwiːre]

Verb

inquīre

1. second-person singular present active imperative of inquīrō

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: in‧qui‧re

Verb

inquire

1. inflection of inquirir:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative