inquisitress

[ in-kwiz-i-tris ]

noun

1. a woman who makes an inquisition.

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inquisitress¹

First recorded in 1720–30; inquisit(o)r + -ess

Example Sentences

"Why, my dear, when people are abroad they can't be at home," continued the inquisitress.

From Project Gutenberg

Jake repeated, turning ashen pale, and fixing his inquisitress with a distant gaze.

From Project Gutenberg

"But what says the favorite Sultana to this?" asked the Grand Inquisitress.

From Project Gutenberg

Last Sunday's gutsy John Bridger-trained Brighton winner Inquisitress is so named not for her nature, but because she has an unusual question mark shape on her forehead with a less prominent white spot further down, completing the shape of the symbol.

From The Guardian

Little Jesuit inquisitress as she was, she could see things in a true light, and understand them in an unperverted sense; but the idea that she had ventured to communicate information, thus gained, to others; that she had, perhaps, amused herself with a companion over documents, in my eyes most sacred, shocked me cruelly.

From Project Gutenberg