ENQUIRE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does enquire mean? 

• ENQUIRE (verb)
  The verb ENQUIRE has 3 senses:

1. address a question to and expect an answer from

2. conduct an inquiry or investigation of

3. have a wish or desire to know something

  Familiarity information: ENQUIRE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENQUIRE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they enquire    ... he / she / it enquires   
Past simple: enquired   
Past participle: enquired   
-ing form: enquiring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Address a question to and expect an answer from

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

ask; enquire; inquire

Context example:

He had to ask directions several times

Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Verb group:

ask (direct or put; seek an answer to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):

pry (be nosey)

query; question (pose a question)

interrogate; question (pose a series of questions to)

confer with; consult (get or ask advice from)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They enquire whether there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

enquirer (someone who asks a question)

enquiry (an instance of questioning)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Conduct an inquiry or investigation of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

enquire; inquire; investigate

Context example:

inquire into the disappearance of the rich old lady

Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):

examine; probe (question or examine thoroughly and closely)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):

spy (secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

enquirer (someone who asks a question)

enquiry (a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Have a wish or desire to know something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

enquire; inquire; wonder

Context example:

He wondered who had built this beautiful church

Hypernyms (to "enquire" is one way to...):

query; question (pose a question)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enquire"):

request (inquire for (information))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

 Context examples 

Anne said what was proper, and enquired after her husband.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

As soon as they left the dining-room, Elinor enquired of her about it; and great was her surprise when she found that every circumstance related by Mrs. Jennings was perfectly true.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I tried to calm Ernest; I enquired more minutely concerning my father, and here I named my cousin.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

For her own advantage indeed, it was fit that the utmost extent of Harriet's hopes should be enquired into; and Harriet had done nothing to forfeit the regard and interest which had been so voluntarily formed and maintained—or to deserve to be slighted by the person, whose counsels had never led her right.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He had enquired after her, she found, particularly; had expressed his hope of Miss Elliot's not being the worse for her exertions, and had spoken of those exertions as great.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

His name, he replied, was Willoughby, and his present home was at Allenham, from whence he hoped she would allow him the honour of calling tomorrow to enquire after Miss Dashwood.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Presently Ernest came, and enquired if we had seen his brother; he said, that he had been playing with him, that William had run away to hide himself, and that he vainly sought for him, and afterwards waited for a long time, but that he did not return.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Might he not? Is not it possible, that when enquiring, as you thought, into the state of your affections, he might be alluding to Mr. Martin—he might have Mr. Martin's interest in view? But Harriet rejected the suspicion with spirit.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He enquired after you very particularly; asked even if you were personally altered, little suspecting that to my eye you could never alter.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I heard it yesterday by chance, and was coming to you on purpose to enquire farther about it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)