Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Inquiry \In*quir"y\, n.; pl. {Inquiries}. [See {Inquire}.]
   [Written also {enquiry}.]
   1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking
      questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.

            He could no path nor track of foot descry, Nor by
            inquiry learn, nor guess by aim.      --Spenser.

            The men which were sent from Cornelius had made
            inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the
            gate.                                 --Acts x. 17.

   2. Search for truth, information, or knoledge; examination
      into facts or principles; research; invextigation; as,
      physical inquiries.

            All that is wanting to the perfection of this art
            will undoubtedly be found, if able men . . . will
            make inquiry into it.                 --Dryden.

   {Court of inquiry}. See under {Court}.

   {Writ of inquiry}, a writ issued in certain actions at law,
      where the defendant has suffered judgment to pass against
      him by default, in order to ascertain and assess the
      plaintiff's damages, where they can not readily be
      ascertained by mere calculation. --Burrill.

   Syn: Interrogation; interrogatory; question; query; scrutiny;
        investigation; research; examination.

Source : WordNet®

inquiry
     n 1: a search for knowledge; "their pottery deserves more
          research than it has received" [syn: {enquiry}, {research}]
     2: an instance of questioning; "there was a question about my
        training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were
        present" [syn: {question}, {enquiry}, {query}, {interrogation}]
        [ant: {answer}]
     3: a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
        [syn: {enquiry}]