inquire
ɪnˈkwaɪər
verb
Origin
Latin
inquirere — to seek into, investigate, ask about
Overview
Meaning Now
- to ask for information about something
- to investigate or look into something formally
Literal older meaning
to ask into; to make an inquiry
Language path
Latin → French → English
Earliest form
enqueren / inquire(n)
Earliest period
Late Middle English
Journey
The verb entered English through French channels at a time when English absorbed many legal, administrative, and learned words from Anglo-French and Latin. Its modern spelling reflects learned influence from Latin rather than everyday spoken development alone.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
inquirere
“to seek into; investigate; ask about”
- Old French / Anglo-French
enquerre / enquerir
“to inquire; ask”
The Latin prefix in- was commonly reflected as en- in French forms.
- Middle English
enquire / inquire
“to ask; seek information”
English took the verb through French legal and administrative usage.
- Modern English
inquire
“to ask; to investigate formally”
American English commonly favors inquire for both senses, while British English often distinguishes enquire (ask) and inquire (investigate).
Connections
Word parts
in-
prefix
into; toward
quire
root
to seek or ask
Related across languages
French
enquérir
to inquire
Spanish
inquirir
to inquire, investigate
Italian
inquirire
to inquire, investigate
Portuguese
inquiri
I inquired / queried
Related words
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Related to inquire
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.