inquisitorn.
/ɪnˈkwɪzɪtə/ 1. One who makes inquisition or inquiry; an inquirer, seeker, investigator; a curious or prying inquirer, an inquisitive person. Const. of, into.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > [noun] > person having
inquisitor?1504
ferret1629
curioso1658
inquisitive1690
numquid1833
pry1837
noser1860
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > [noun] > person conducting
searchera1382
inseerc1438
intracer?a1475
inquisitor?1504
investigator1538
peruser1549
tracer1552
scrutineer1557
examinant1587
revisitor1594
examiner?1608
examinator1612
researcher1615
indagator1620
ferret1629
pryer1674
probator1691
disquisitor1766
grubber1776
prober1777
grubbler1813
detective1850
expiscator1882
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > [noun] > intensive questioning > person conducting
inquisitor?1504
Spanish Inquisition1625
pump1900
?1504 M. Beaufort tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iv. xviii. 282 That a man shulde nat be to curious a inquisitor of that holy sacrament.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) II. clxiii. [clix.] 450 Enquisitours..inquysitours..enquysytours.
1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. 161 Curious Inquisitours of the causes of all naturall things.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 18 They..become rather curiouse inquisitors then Godlie learners.
1665 I. Walton Life of Hooker in Hooker's Wks. (1888) I. 5 My affection to them made me a diligent inquisitor into many things that concerned him.
1779 H. Swinburne in Crts. Europe close last Cent. (1841) I. 252 The Grand Duke..pries into everything, and knows all that passes. This royal inquisitor seems, however, to be very popular.
1841 R. W. Emerson Misc. 160 Here comes by a great inquisitor with auger and plumb-line, and will bore an Artesian well through our conventions and theories, and pierce to the core of things.
2. † b. A detective, informer, or spy. Obsolete.
a. One whose official duty it is to inquire, examine, or investigate, in matters of crime, taxation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > one who administers justice > [noun] > conductor of inquests or coroner
crowner1327
questmonger1389
quest-ditera1500
quest-gangera1500
inquisitor1513
questman1548
coronera1640
inquest-man1766
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. vii. 17 King Mynos, inquisitour and justice.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. lxv Hys people, beynge sore vexed with inquysitors, pollers & promoters.
1549 W. Thomas Hist. Italie f. 81v There be certaine inquisitours, called Sindici, sent foorth to refourme extorcions.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. ii. 6 The subtilty of that Inquisitor shall not present unto God a bundle of calumnies or confutable accusations. View more context for this quotation
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Inquisitor, a Sheriff, Coroner, etc. having Power to inquire into certain Cases.
1864 D. G. Mitchell Seven Stories 231 The three Inquisitors of State were met in their chamber of the Ducal Palace.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > informing on or against > [noun] > informer
wrayerc1000
wrobberc1300
discoverera1400
denunciator1474
informer1503
denouncer1533
detector1541
delatora1572
sycophant1579
inquisitor1580
scout1585
finger man1596
emphanista1631
quadruplator1632
informant1645
eastee-man1681
whiddler1699
runner1724
stag1725
snitch1785
qui tam1788
squeak1795
split1819
clype1825
telegraph1825
snitcher1827
Jack Nasty1837
pigeon1847
booker1863
squealer1865
pig1874
rounder1884
sneak1886
mouse1890
finger1899
fizgig1902
screamer1902
squeaker1903
canary1912
shopper1924
narker1932
snurge1933
cheese eater1935
singer1935
tip-off1941
top-off1941
tout1959
rat fink1961
whistle-blower1970
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > [noun] > a secret observer, spy
showerOE
spya1325
exploratorc1429
watch1484
inquisitor1580
scout1585
fly1622
otacust1632
evidence1691
lurcher1706
plant1812
1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Informateur, an Informer, an Inquisitour.
1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal Sixteen Satyrs 56 For such a turbut who durst sell or buy, So many inquisitours and informers nigh?
1756 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. I. 92 There are certain officers, called private overseers, who inspect into the offences, clandestine meetings, and other misdemeanors of their fellow-citizens... These inquisitors are private, and swear to the faithful execution of their office.
1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. xiv. 127 Refrain from acting the spy or inquisitor.
c. transferred and figurative.
ΚΠ
1735 H. Fielding Universal Gallant ii. 20 What's that to you, Brother? Who made you the Inquisitor of my Actions?
1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 125 While at Rome Stucley and Shelley acted in concert as inquisitors into the lives of the English who happened to come there.
3. figurative.a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 187 Those fierce Inquisitors of Wit, The Critics, spare no Flesh, that ever writ.
a. An officer of the Inquisition: see inquisition n. 3a.Inquisitores ad conquirendos et eruendos hereticos, ‘inquisitors for searching out and rooting out heretics’, were first appointed by the Constitution of Theodosius I in 382. Inquisitores were sent into the south of France in the 13th cent. to extirpate the heresy of the Albigenses. But the name is chiefly associated with the Spanish Inquisition as reconstituted in the end of the 15th cent.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > ecclesiastical discipline > court > papal court (Inquisition) > [noun] > officer of
inquisitor1545
familiar1560
1545 M. Coverdale tr. Defence Poore Christen Man sig. Aiiij I meane euen the thou accuser, which..art called an inquisitour of heresie.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 29v The bloodie Inquisitors in Italie...Their care and charge is..onelie to watch and ouersee that Christes trewe Religion set no sure footing, where the Pope hath any Iurisdiction.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 6 They will not trust the people with it [the Scripture]..no not with the Licence of their owne Bishops and Inquisitors.
a1745 J. Swift Pulteney's Answer to Walpole (Seager) The mercy of a Spanish inquisitor.
1841 G. Borrow Zincali I. i. x. 171 He..having been an inquisitor, was doubtless versed in the annals of the holy office.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. 20 One age enrolling the mystic among the saints, another committing him to the inquisitor's torch.
b. Inquisitor-General, the head of the court of Inquisition in certain countries, esp. in Spain. Grand Inquisitor, a director of a court of Inquisition in certain countries.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > ecclesiastical discipline > court > papal court (Inquisition) > [noun] > officer of > chief
Inquisitor-General1659
Grand Inquisitor1857
1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 78 Gregory the Fifteenth, then Pope, exhorted the Bishop of Conchen Inquisitor-General of Spain, to improve the opportunity.
1711 London Gaz. No. 4854/1 The Duke of Anjou has created Cardinal de Giudicis Inquisitor General of Spain.
1781 W. Cowper Truth 104 No grand inquisitor could worse invent.
1840 Penny Cycl. XVI. 408/2 Soon after [1482], the pope appointed Thomas de Torquemada, prior of the Dominican convent of Segovia, to the new dignity of inquisitor-general of the kingdom of Castile.
1857 C. M. Yonge Cameos xlii, in Monthly Packet Aug. 117 They were to be tried before the grand inquisitor, Guillaume Humbert, a Dominican friar.
1863 H. W. Longfellow Theologian's Tale i, in Tales Wayside Inn 173 Torquemada, with his subtle brain, Ruled them, as Grand Inquisitor of Spain.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?1504