Inquisition

The act of inquiring; inquiry; search; examination; inspection; investigation.

Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest.

The finding of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry.

A court or tribunal for the examination and punishment of heretics, fully established by Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. Its operations were chiefly confined to Spain, Portugal, and their dependencies, and a part of Italy.

To make inquisistion concerning; to inquire into.

a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy