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inquisitorial

Pronunciation: /ɪnˌkwɪzɪˈtɔːrɪəl/

Definition of inquisitorial

adjective

  • of or like an inquisitor, especially in questioning someone in a harsh or intensive manner: he was questioning her in a cold, inquisitorial voice
  • Law (of a trial or legal procedure) characterized by the judge performing an examining role: administration is accompanied by a form of inquisitorial justiceCompare with accusatorial, adversarial.

Derivatives

inquisitorially

adverb

Origin:

mid 18th century: from medieval Latin inquisitorius (from Latin inquisitor, from inquirere 'inquire') + -al

inquisitorial in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of inquisitorial in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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