Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Inquest
In′quest
,Noun.
[OE.
enqueste
, OF. enqueste
, F. enquête
, LL. inquesta
, for inquisita
, fr. L. inquisitus
, p. p. of inquirere
. See Inquire
.] 1.
Inquiry; quest; search.
[R.]
Spenser.
The laborious and vexatious
inquest
that the soul must make after science. South.
2.
(Law)
(a)
Judicial inquiry; official examination, esp. before a jury;
as, a coroner’s
. inquest
in case of a sudden death(b)
A body of men assembled under authority of law to inquire into any matter, 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
. (c)
The finding of the jury upon such inquiry.
Coroner's inquest
, an inquest held by a coroner to determine the cause of any violent, sudden, or mysterious death. See
– Coroner
. Inquest of office
, an inquiry made, by authority or direction of proper officer, into matters affecting the rights and interests of the crown or of the state.
Craig. Bouvier.
Webster 1828 Edition
Inquest
IN'QUEST
,Noun.
1.
Inquisition; judicial inquiry; official examination. An inquest of office, is an inquiry made by the king's officer, his sheriff, coroner, or escheator, concerning any matter that entitles the king to the possession of lands or tenements, goods or chattels. It is made by a jury of no determinate number. In the United States, a similar inquiry, made by the proper officer, under the authority of a state.
2.
A jury.3.
Inquiry; search.