View synonyms for inquisitorial

inquisitorial

[ in-kwiz-i-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of or relating to an inquisitor or inquisition.
exercising the office of an inquisitor.
Law.
1. pertaining to a trial with one person or group inquiring into the facts and acting as both prosecutor and judge.
2. pertaining to secret criminal prosecutions.
resembling an inquisitor in harshness or intrusiveness.
inquisitive; prying.

inquisitorial

/ ɪnˌkwɪzɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

of, relating to, or resembling inquisition or an inquisitor
offensively curious; prying
law denoting criminal procedure in which one party is both prosecutor and judge, or in which the trial is held in secret Compare accusatorial

1755–65; < Medieval Latin inquīsītōri ( us ) ( Latin inquīsītōr-, stem of inquīsītor inquisitor + -ius adj. suffix) + -al ¹

By contrast, the European system is described as "inquisitorial."

So Rangel, bereft of that narrative, chose instead to question the intelligence of a pesky, inquisitorial journalist.

But conversation will not bear such inquisitorial pinning down to a particular point.

This was merely a modified form of the inquisitorial principle which reigned more openly in other countries.

But neither Scrooby, nor any other place, was secure from the inquisitorial interference of the high church functionaries.

Casting a quick, inquisitorial glance at Sue, he shrugged his shoulders in token of indifference and said no more.

Fire, not water, became the grand element of inquisitorial purification.

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