enquire
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- inquire (chiefly US)
Etymology[edit]
Old French enquerre, from en- + querre (“to search, to look for”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɪŋˈkwaɪɹ/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪŋˈkwaɪə/
Audio (UK) (file)
- Rhymes: -aɪə(ɹ)
Verb[edit]
enquire (third-person singular simple present enquires, present participle enquiring, simple past and past participle enquired)
- (intransitive) To make an enquiry.
- He enquired about the availability of rental bicycles in the town.
- (transitive, archaic) To ask about (something).
- 1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], OCLC 868004604, book:
- Having thus at length enquired the truth concerning Law and dispense.
- 1814, Lord Byron, The Corsair
- And all obey and few enquire his will.
Usage notes[edit]
In the USA, inquire is generally used in place of enquire. Where enquire is used (particularly in the UK), it means a non-official enquiry (such as to ask a question), whereas inquire is used in legal or government context where official transcripts are generated. In the USA, this distinction is not made and inquire is used generally.[1]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to make an enquiry
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to ask about (something)
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Anagrams[edit]
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English 3-syllable words
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- English transitive verbs
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- English reporting verbs