Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Question

Ques′tion

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
quaestio
, fr.
quaerere
,
quaesitum
, to seek for, ask, inquire. See
Quest
,
Noun.
]
1.
The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry;
as, to examine by
question
and answer
.
2.
Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt;
as, the story is true beyond
question
; he obeyed without
question
.
There arose a
question
between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
John iii. 25.
It is to be to
question
, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith.
Bacon.
3.
Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture.
Blackstone.
He that was in
question
for the robbery.
Shak
.
The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the
question
.
Macaulay.
4.
That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query.
But this
question
asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ?
Milton.
5.
Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into;
as, a delicate or doubtful
question
.
6.
Talk; conversation; speech; speech.
[Obs.]
Shak.
In question
,
in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question.
–
Leading question
.
See under
Leading
.
–
Out of question
,
unquestionably.
“Out of question, 't is Maria's hand.”
Shak.
–
Out of the question
.
See under
Out
.
–
Past question
,
beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably.
–
Previous question
,
a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration.
The form of the question is: “Shall the main question be now put?” If the vote is in the affirmative, the matter before the body must be voted upon as it then stands, without further general debate or the submission of new amendments. In the House of Representatives of the United States, and generally in America, a negative decision operates to keep the business before the body as if the motion had not been made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to postpone consideration for the day, and until the subject may be again introduced. In American practice, the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is made by a friend of the measure. In English practice, the object is to get rid of the subject for the time being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting against it.
Cushing.
–
To beg the question
.
See under
Beg
.
–
To the question
,
to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate.
Syn. – Point; topic; subject.

Ques′tion

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Questioned
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Questioning
.]
[Cf. F.
questionner
. See
Question
,
Noun.
]
1.
To ask questions; to inquire.
He that
questioneth
much shall learn much.
Bacon.
2.
To argue; to converse; to dispute.
[Obs.]
I pray you, think you
question
with the Jew.
Shakespeare

Ques′tion

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories;
as, to
question
a witness
.
2.
To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query.
And most we
question
what we most desire.
Prior.
3.
To raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to.
“But have power and right to question thy bold entrance on this place.”
Milton.
4.
To talk to; to converse with.
With many holiday and lady terms he
questioned
me.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert; dispute.
– Question, Inquire, Interrogate. To inquire is merely to ask for information, and implies no authority in the one who asks. To interrogate is to put repeated questions in a formal or systematic fashion to elicit some particular fact or facts. To question has a wider sense than to interrogate, and often implies an attitude of distrust or opposition on the part of the questioner.

Webster 1828 Edition

Question

QUESTION

,
Noun.
ques'chun. [L. quaestio. See Quest.]
1.
The act of asking; an interrogatory; as, to examine by question and answer.
2.
That which is asked; something proposed which is to be solved by answer. What is the question?
3.
Inquiry; disquisition; discussion.
It is to be put to question, whether it is lawful for christian princes to make an invasive war, simply for the propagation of the faith.
4.
Dispute or subject of debate.
There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. John 3.
5.
Doubt; controversy; dispute. The story is true beyond all question.
This does not bring their truth in question.
6.
Trial; examination; judicial trial or inquiry.
Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. Acts 23. Acts 24.
7.
Examination by torture.
8.
Endeavor; effort; act of seeking. [Not in use.]
9.
In logic, a proposition stated by way of interrogation.
In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question.

Definition 2024

question

question

English

Alternative forms

Noun

question ‎(plural questions)

  1. A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 4, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.
    What is your question?‎
  2. A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.
    The question of seniority will be discussed at the meeting.‎
    There was a question of which material to use.‎
  3. A doubt or challenge about the truth or accuracy of a matter.
    His claim to the property has come under question.‎
    The story is true beyond question.
    He obeyed without question.
    • Bible, John iii. 25
      There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
    • Francis Bacon
      It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith.
  4. A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.
    I move that the question be put to a vote.‎
  5. interrogation by torture
    • Macaulay
      The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question.
  6. (obsolete) Talk; conversation; speech.
    Made she no verbal question? Shakespeare King Lear ca. 1606

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

question ‎(third-person singular simple present questions, present participle questioning, simple past and past participle questioned)

  1. To ask questions of; interrogate; enquire; ask for information.
    • Francis Bacon
      He that questioneth much shall learn much.
  2. To raise doubts about; have doubts about.
  3. (obsolete) To argue; to converse; to dispute.
    • Shakespeare
      I pray you, think you question with the Jew.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

  • question in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  1. ↑ question in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: live · hard · ask · #409: question · doubt · around · black

French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French question, a borrowing from Latin quaestiō, quaestiōnem.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɛs.tjɔ̃/
  • Rhymes: -jɔ̃

Noun

question f ‎(plural questions)

  1. a question
  2. a matter or issue; a problem

Anagrams

Interlingua

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kwesˈtjon/

Noun

question ‎(plural questiones)

  1. question

Old French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin quaestiō, quaestiōnem.

Noun

question f ‎(oblique plural questions, nominative singular question, nominative plural questions)

  1. question (verbal statement intended to elicit a response)
  2. question (problem in need of resolution)

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Middle English question, questioun, questiun, a borrowing from Anglo-Norman questiun, from Old French question, from Latin quaestiōnem, accusative of quaestiō ‎(“a seeking, investigation, inquiry, question”), from quaerere ‎(“to seek, ask, inquire”).[1] Displaced native Middle English frain, fraign ‎(“question”) (from Old English fræġn); compare Middle English frainen, freinen ‎(“to inquire, question”), Middle English afrainen, affrainen ‎(“to question”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkwɛst͡ʃən/, /ˈkwɛstjən/, /ˈkwɛʃt͡ʃən/
  • Hyphenation: ques‧tion

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