Inquisitorial

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inquisitorial \In*quis`i*to"ri*al\, a. [Cf. F. inquisitorial.]
     1. Pertaining to inquisition; making rigorous and unfriendly
        inquiry; searching; as, inquisitorial power. "Illiberal
        and inquisitorial abuse." --F. Blackburne.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              He conferred on it a kind of inquisitorial and
              censorious power even over the laity, and directed
              it to inquire into all matters of conscience.
                                                    --Hume.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Pertaining to the Court of Inquisition or resembling its
        practices. "Inquisitorial robes." --C. Buchanan.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  inquisitorial
       adj 1: especially indicating a form of prosecution in which
              proceedings are secret and the accused is questioned
              by a prosecutor who acts also as the judge [ant: {accusatorial}]
       2: marked by inquisitive interest; especially suggestive of an
          ecclesiastical inquisitor; "the press was inquisitorial to
          the point of antagonism"; "a practical police force with
          true inquisitorial talents"- Waldo Frank
       3: having the authority to conduct official investigations;
          "the inquisitorial power of the Senate"