inquest

Where does the word "inquest" come from? It comes from Latin quaerere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Inquest’s story begins in Latin: quaerere meant “to seek.” To seek, combined with in- (into). Within Latin, it grew into inquirere by ancient. To seek into, to investigate, from in- and quaerere. From there it passed into Old French as enqueste by medieval. Carried into French for a formal investigation. It reached English by 1200s as inquest. Settled as the English word for a formal investigation, especially into a death. Today, inquest means an official investigation, especially into the cause of a person's death.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient quaerere "to seek", to seek, combined with in- (into).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient inquirere "to seek into, to investigate", to seek into, to investigate, from in- and quaerere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval enqueste "a formal investigation", carried into French for a formal investigation.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s inquest "a formal investigation, especially into the cause of a death", settled as the English word for a formal investigation, especially into a death.