inquire

(ĭn-kwīr') also en·quire (ĕn-)

v., -quired, also -quired, -quir·ing, -quir·ing, -quires, -quires.

v.intr.

1. To seek information by asking a question: inquired about prices.
2. To make an inquiry or investigation: inquire into the extent of the corruption.

v.tr.

1. To ask about.
2. To ask: "I am free to inquire what a work of art means to me" (Bernard Berenson). See synonyms at ask.

phrasal verb:

inquire after

1. To ask about the health or condition of.

[Middle English enquiren, from Old French enquerre, from Vulgar Latin *inquaerere, alteration of Latin inquīrere : in-, into; see in-² + quaerere, to seek.]

inquirer in·quir'er n.
inquiringly in·quir'ing·ly adv.

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The forms in en- and in- have long been largely interchangeable. At present the in- forms are dominant in all meanings in American English, whereas in British English there is a tendency to prefer the in- forms for official or formal types of investigation and (to a lesser extent) the en- forms for routine or general types of information-seeking. The differences in British English are seen in these typical collocations: (formal investigation) inquiry agency / judicial inquiry / public inquiry / a committee to inquire into the allegations / (general information-seeking) enquired after her health / several enquiries about the job / directory enquiries / door-to-door enquiries.

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also enquire

verb

1. To put a question to (someone): ask, examine, query, question, quiz. See ask/answer.
2. To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information: delve, dig, explore, investigate, look into, probe, reconnoiter, scout¹. See investigate.

v

Definition: ask; look into
Antonyms: answer, respond

IN BRIEF: To ask. Also: to look into to find out.

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate — that's my philosophy. — Thornton Wilder (1897-1975), American playwright & novelist.

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For a list of words related to inquire, see:

• Questions and Answers - inquire: ask, question; investigate; also, esp. Brit., enquire

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See words rhyming with "enquire."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Enquire.

Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - spørge, forhøre sig, henvende sig
v. tr. - spørge om

idioms:

• inquire after    spørge til

Nederlands (Dutch)
informeren, inlichtingen inwinnen, een onderzoek instellen, onderzoeken

Français (French)
v. intr. - se renseigner, demander des nouvelles de qn, s'enquérir de qn, se renseigner sur, faire des recherches sur, (Admin, Jur) enquêter sur
v. tr. - demander, demander qch à qn

idioms:

• inquire after    demander des nouvelles de, s'enquérir de

Deutsch (German)
v. - sich erkundigen, fragen, untersuchen, (EDV) abfragen

idioms:

• inquire after    fragen nach

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - (ε)ρωτώ, ζητώ να μάθω, ρωτώ την τιμή, ερευνώ

idioms:

• inquire after    (ε)ρωτώ για, αναζητώ

Italiano (Italian)
informarsi, investigare

idioms:

• inquire after    informarsi di

Português (Portuguese)
v. - perguntar, investigar

idioms:

• inquire after    perguntar sobre o bem-estar de alguém

Русский (Russian)
узнавать, спрашивать, выяснять

idioms:

• inquire after    наводить справки, осведомляться

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - averiguar, investigar, examinar, informarse de
v. tr. - preguntar, investigar, examinar, indagar

idioms:

• inquire after    preguntar por

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - fråga om (efter), hänvända sig (till), ta reda på

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
询问, 调查, 讯问, 查问

idioms:

• inquire after    问候

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 詢問, 調查
v. tr. - 訊問, 調查, 查問

idioms:

• inquire after    問候

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 묻다, 조사하다
v. tr. - 묻다, 문의하다

idioms:

• inquire after    ~의 건강을 묻다, ~의 안부를 묻다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 尋ねる, 問う, 質問をする, 調べる, 聞く, 問い合わせる

idioms:

• inquire after    安否を問う, 尋ねる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يسأل, يستعلم عن, يبحث, يحقق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮חיפש מידע באמצעות חקירה רשמית‬
v. tr. - ‮חקר ודרש, שאל‬

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