inquire

== English == === Alternative forms === enquire (chiefly British) === Etymology === From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“I 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”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkwaɪə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkwaɪɹ/ Hyphenation: in‧quire Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ) === Verb === inquire (third-person singular simple present inquires, present participle inquiring, simple past and past participle inquired) (ambitransitive) (intransitive, US, Canada, Australia) To ask (about something). (intransitive) To make an inquiry or an investigation. (transitive, obsolete) To call; to name. ==== Usage notes ==== The spelling inquire is more common, especially in American English, but also in British English. Some authorities assert that a distinction is made in the UK, with enquire being used for a unofficial enquiry, and inquire only used in legal or government contexts; in the US, Canada, and Australia, this distinction is not made and inquire is used generally. ==== Synonyms ==== frain (dialect or obsolete) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === == Latin == === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ɪŋˈkʷiː.rɛ] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [iŋˈkʷiː.re] === Verb === inquīre second-person singular present active imperative of inquīrō == Portuguese == === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: in‧qui‧re === Verb === inquire inflection of inquirir: third-person singular present indicative second-person singular imperative