Added 9 October 2026

inquire

/ɪnˈkwaɪə/ verb

In Latin: scisco, sciscitor, scitor Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about inquire at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To ask (about something).
May I inquire to whom I have the honor of speaking?
To make an inquiry or an investigation.
Police are already inquiring into the incident.
To call; to name.

From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Displaced Middle English enqueren (from Old French enquerre, of the same source) and native Middle English speir (“ask, inquire”).