inquest

Noun

inquest (plural inquests)

1. A formal investigation, often held before a jury, especially one into the cause of a death
   • The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected.1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 4, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC
   • However, the 'accidental death' verdict of the jury in the inquest into the Croydon tram accident of November 2016 is the latest episode in a saga that seems likely to prevent the full story of this eminently preventable disaster from ever being exposed.2021 August 25, Christian Wolmar, “Croydon tram crash: the questions haven't been answered”, in RAIL, number 938, page 58

   Synonyms:

   assize

2. An inquiry, typically into an undesired outcome
3. The jury hearing such an inquiry, and the result of the inquiry
4. (obsolete, rare) enquiry; quest; search
   • the laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul must make after science1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London
   • Hauing of late by diligent inquest,
     Prouided him a sword of meanest sort1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
5. (Philippines, broadly, criminal law) Prosecutorial proceeding on whether or not a warrantless arrestee is charged with an offense.