enquire
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en·quire
(ĕn-kwīr′)v. Chiefly British
Variant of inquire.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
enquire
(ɪnˈkwaɪə)vb
a variant of inquire
enˈquirer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
in•quire
(ɪnˈkwaɪər)also enquire
v. -quired, -quir•ing. v.i.
1. to seek information by questioning; ask: to inquire about a person.
2. to make investigation (usu. fol. by into): to inquire into the incident.
v.t. 3. to seek to learn by asking: to inquire a person's name.
4. inquire after, to ask about the well-being of (someone not present).
[1425–75; late Middle English < Latin inquīrere to search out, investigate =in- in-2 + quaerere to seek; replacing Middle English enqueren < Old French enquerre < Medieval Latin *inquarere]
in•quir′a•ble, adj.
in•quir′er, n.
in•quir′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
inquire
– enquire – ask1. 'inquire' and 'enquire'
If you inquire or enquire about something, you ask for information about it. There is no difference in meaning between these words. Inquire is more common, especially in American English.
We inquired about the precise circumstances surrounding the arrest.
I enquired about the scenery and Beaumont told me it was being built in a carpenter's shop in Waterloo.
You can use inquire or enquire with a 'wh'-clause.
She inquired how Ibrahim was getting on.
I enquired what kind of aircraft he had commanded before returning home.
In writing, inquire and enquire are sometimes used in quote structures.
'Anything you need?' inquired the girl.
'Who compiles these reports?' Philip enquired.
Be Careful!
You do not use these verbs with a direct object. You do not say, for example, 'He inquired her if she was well'.
2. 'ask'
Inquire and enquire are fairly formal words. In conversation, people usually use ask. Ask can be used with or without a direct object.
She asked about his work.
I asked him what he wanted.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
enquire
Past participle: enquired
Gerund: enquiring
| Imperative |
|---|
| enquire |
| enquire |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  enquire - inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times"communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" ask - direct or put; seek an answer to; "ask a question" pry - be nosey; "Don't pry into my personal matters!" confer with, consult - get or ask advice from; "Consult your local broker"; "They had to consult before arriving at a decision" ask - address a question to and expect an answer from; "Ask your teacher about trigonometry"; "The children asked me about their dead grandmother" |
| 2. | enquire - conduct an inquiry or investigation of; "The district attorney's office investigated reports of possible irregularities"; "inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady" spy - secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage; "spy for the Russians" | |
| 3. | enquire - have a wish or desire to know something; "He wondered who had built this beautiful church" request - inquire for (information); "I requested information from the secretary" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
enquire
see inquireCollins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
inquire
also enquireverb
2. To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَحَرّى عن، يُحَقِّق فييَسْأل عنيَسْأل عن شَخْصيَسْأل عن صِحَّةيَسْتَعْلِمُ عَنْ
dotázat se
forespørge
tiedustella
pitati
grennslast fyrir umgrennslast fyrir um, rannsakaspyrja umspyrjast fyrir um
問い合わせる
문의하다
apjautātiesievākt ziņasjautātpētīt
poizvedovatiraziskovativprašati
efterfråga
ถามคำถาม
hỏi thông tin
inquire,
enquire
(inˈkwaiə) verb1. to ask. He inquired the way to the art gallery; She inquired what time the bus left.
2. (with about) to ask for information about. They inquired about trains to London.
3. (with after) to ask for information about the state of (eg a person's health). He enquired after her mother.
4. (with for) to ask to see or talk to (a person). Someone rang up inquiring for you, but you were out.
5. (with for) to ask for (goods in a shop etc). Several people have been inquiring for the new catalogue.
6. (with into) to try to discover the facts of. The police are inquiring into the matter.
inˈquiry ( American also ˈinkwəri) , enˈquiry (American also ˈenkwəri) – plural inquiries, ~enquiries – noun1. (an act of) asking or investigating. His inquiries led him to her hotel; (also adjective) All questions will be dealt with at the inquiry desk.
2. an investigation. An inquiry is being held into her disappearance.
make inquiries to ask for information.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
enquire
→ يَسْتَعْلِمُ عَنْ dotázat se forespørge erkundigen (sich) ερευνώ inquirir tiedustella demander pitati chiedere 問い合わせる 문의하다 navragen spørre zasięgnąć informacji informar-se осведомляться efterfråga ถามคำถาม araştırmak hỏi thông tin 询问Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009