Latin

in-

in, into, on, upon

Forms

in-
im- — Used before b, m, or p in Latin.
il- — Used before l in Latin.
ir- — Used before r in Latin.
en- — Developed in French in some words later borrowed into English.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *en, ‘in.’

Note

Identical spellings can hide two different prefixes: this one indicates position or direction, while the other means ‘not.’

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noun

inquisition

in-kwih-ZISH-uhn/ˌɪnkwɪˈzɪʃn/

A harsh or prolonged questioning or investigation.

Her parents turn every late arrival into an inquisition.

A tired adult faces prolonged questioning across a desk by two persistent questioners, no violence or restraint.

Etymology

inLatinin, into, on, upon

+quisitLatinseek, ask, investigate

+ionLatinan action, process, or result

A 'searching into' became a legal examination, including a search for grounds for accusation. The selected sense presents questioning as that kind of searching examination, experienced as harsh or prolonged rather than as a simple request.

More examples

The interview feels more like an inquisition than a conversation.
He refuses to endure another inquisition about his spending.
The manager's weekly inquisitions leave the entire staff exhausted.

Forms

inquisition · inquisitions

inquisitorial adjective — Involving harsh questioning or intensive investigation.

Similar words

interrogation: Emphasizes direct, formal questioning rather than a broader investigation.
grilling: Informally describes intense questioning, often over a short period.
investigation: Covers systematic fact-finding without necessarily implying harsh treatment.