inquisitorial

[ in-kwiz-i-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr- ]
/ ɪnˌkwɪz ɪˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr- /

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.

Origin of inquisitorial

1755–65; < Medieval Latin inquīsītōri(us) (Latin inquīsītōr-, stem of inquīsītor inquisitor + -ius adj. suffix) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM inquisitorial

in·quis·i·to·ri·al·ly, adverb in·quis·i·to·ri·al·ness, noun un·in·quis·i·to·ri·al, adjective un·in·quis·i·to·ri·al·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for inquisitorial

British Dictionary definitions for inquisitorial

inquisitorial
/ (ɪnˌkwɪzɪˈtɔːrɪəl) /

adjective

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 (def. 2)

Derived forms of inquisitorial

inquisitorially, adverb inquisitorialness, noun