英文字典中文字典Word104.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Inquest \In"quest\, n. [OE. enqueste, OF. enqueste, F.
enqu[^e]te, LL. inquesta, for inquisita, fr. L. inquisitus,
p. p. of inquirere. See {Inquire}.]
1. Inquiry; quest; search. [R.] --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]

The laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul
must make after science. --South.
[1913 Webster]

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.
[1913 Webster]

{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.
[1913 Webster]