investigation (n.)

early 15c., from Old French investigacion (14c.), from Latin investigationem (nominative investigatio) "a searching into, a searching for," noun of action from past participle stem of investigare "to trace out, search after," figuratively "search into, investigate," from in- "in, into" (from PIE root *en "in") + vestigare "to track, trace," from vestigium "a footprint, a track" (see vestige).

also from early 15c.

Entries linking to investigation

vestige (n.)

c. 1600, from French vestige "a mark, trace, sign" (16c.), from Latin vestigium "footprint, trace," a word of unknown origin.

investigate (v.)

c. 1500, back-formation from investigation or else from Latin investigatus, past participle of investigare "to trace out, search after," figuratively "search into, investigate," from in- "in, into" (from PIE root *en "in") + vestigare "to track, trace," from vestigium "footprint, track" (see vestige). Related: Investigated; investigating.

investigative

investigator

*en

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Trends of investigation

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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probe

early 15c., "slender, flexible rod for exploring the conditions of wounds or other cavities in the body," also "a medical examination," from Medieval Latin proba "examination," in Late Latin "a test, proof," from Latin probare "show, demonstrate; test, inspect; judge by trial" (s

disquisition

c. 1600, "subject for investigation" (a sense now obsolete), also "systematic search, formal inquiry into some problem or...topic," from Latin disquisitionem (nominative disquisitio) "an inquiry, investigation," noun of action from past-participle...

discussion

mid-14c., discussioun, "examination, investigation, judicial trial," from Old French discussion "discussion, examination,...investigation, legal trial" and directly from Medieval Latin discussionem (nominative discussio) "examination, discussion...

inquisition

late 14c., "judicial investigation, act or process of inquiring," from Old French inquisicion "inquiry, investigation" (12c...

eugenics

The investigation of human eugenics, that is, of the conditions under which men of a high type are produced....

research

The meaning "diligent scientific inquiry and investigation directed to the discovery of some fact" is attested by 1630s....

Persephone

De Vaan writes that "The name was always considered obscure" until a thorough investigation published in 2006 reported that...

c. 1300, serchen, "go through and examine carefully and in detail" (transitive), from Old French cerchier "to search" (12c., Modern French chercher), from Latin circare "go about, wander, traverse," in Late Latin "to wander hither and thither, go round, explore," from circus "cir

chaser

c. 1300, "horse trained for chasing," agent noun from chase (v.), probably in some cases from Old French chaceor "huntsman, hunter." The meaning "water or mild beverage taken after a strong drink" is by 1894, U.S. colloquial. French had chasse (from chasser "to chase") "a drink o

count

late 14c., "to enumerate, assign numerals to successively and in order; repeat the numerals in order," also "to reckon among, include," from Old French conter "to count, add up," also "tell a story," from Latin computare "to count, sum up, reckon together," from com "with, togeth

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updated on September 28, 2017

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Dictionary entries near investigation

invert

invertebrate

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investigable

investigate

investigation

investigative

investigator

investiture

investment

investor