Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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 matterm 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.