in·quire

(ĭn-kwīr′)

v. in·quired, in·quir·ing, in·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, especially politely or formally: The host inquired why we were leaving so soon. See Synonyms at ask.

2. To ask questions about (something); investigate or analyze: economists inquiring whether markets behave differently during a recession.

Phrasal Verb:

inquire after

To ask about the health or condition of (someone).

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

in·quir′er n.

in·quir′ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

inquirer - someone who asks a question

asker, enquirer, querier, questioner

cross-examiner, cross-questioner - someone who questions a witness carefully (especially about testimony given earlier)

examiner, quizzer, tester - someone who administers a test to determine your qualifications

inquisitor, interrogator - a questioner who is excessively harsh

interviewer - a person who conducts an interview

headcounter, poll taker, pollster, canvasser - someone who conducts surveys of public opinion; "a pollster conducts public opinion polls"; "a headcounter counts heads"

speaker, talker, verbaliser, verbalizer, utterer - someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous); "the speaker at commencement"; "an utterer of useful maxims"

inquirer

also enquirer
noun

One who inquires:

inquisitor, investigator, prober, querier, quester, questioner, researcher.

Translations

indagatore investigatore

informateuronderzoeker

inquirer

[ɪnˈkwaɪərəʳ] N (= asker) → el/la que pregunta; (= researcher) → investigador(a) m/f (into de)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

inquirer

[ɪnˈkwaɪərə^r] n → enquêteur/trice m/f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

inquirer

, enquirer

n → Fragende(r) mf

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

inquirer

[ɪnˈkwaɪərəʳ] n (frm) we told all inquirers to phone again later → abbiamo detto a tutti quelli che chiedevano informazioni di ritelefonare più tardi

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

A prince, therefore, ought always to take counsel, but only when he wishes and not when others wish; he ought rather to discourage every one from offering advice unless he asks it; but, however, he ought to be a constant inquirer, and afterwards a patient listener concerning the things of which he inquired; also, on learning that nay one, on any consideration, has not told him the truth, he should let his anger be felt.

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The reader will here find no regions cursed with irremediable barrenness, or blessed with spontaneous fecundity, no perpetual gloom or unceasing sunshine; nor are the nations here described either devoid of all sense of humanity, or consummate in all private and social virtues; here are no Hottentots without religion, polity, or articulate language, no Chinese perfectly polite, and completely skilled in all sciences: he will discover, what will always be discovered by a diligent and impartial inquirer, that wherever human nature is to be found there is a mixture of vice and virtue, a contest of passion and reason, and that the Creator doth not appear partial in his distributions, but has balanced in most countries their particular inconveniences by particular favours.

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The professor, in annoyance, and, as it were, mental suffering at the interruption, looked round at the strange inquirer, more like a bargeman than a philosopher, and turned his eyes upon Sergey Ivanovitch, as though to ask: What's one to say to him?

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He published, therefore, in the Richmond Inquirer a series of wagers, conceived in these terms, and on an increasing scale:

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At times, he spoke to his slaves with the firmness of Napoleon and the fury of a demon; at other times, he might well be mistaken for an inquirer who had lost his way.

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Milvain, her aunt Celia, a zealous inquirer into such matters, whose letter was also under consideration.

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Sometimes I have to stretch out my arm and brush too curious an inquirer into the place where curiosity ends.

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ANXIOUS INQUIRER:--If you want to remove inkstains place the stain over steam and apply salt and lemon juice.

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"Just my luck," grumbled the inquirer, jerking his flies off the water, and throwing again with a heavy, sullen splash, and frightening Tom's fish.

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It cannot assist the inquirer. It will lead him, in the most logical progression, to what, in the eyes of artists, would be a most illogical conclusion.

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"I am, of course, a mere student," said I, with a fatuous smile, "hardly more, I might say, than an earnest inquirer. At the same time, it seemed to me that you were a little severe upon Weissmann in this matter.

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'Eh?' replied the man, holding the door in his hand, and honouring the inquirer with a stare and a broad grin, 'Lord, no.'

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