inquiry
an investigation or question
Roots
- in- / im- (in/into): in, into, within, or on
- quer / quis: seek, ask, question
Other words with the quer / quis root
- acquire: to gain or obtain
- acquisitive: eager to acquire things
- exquisite: finely made or intensely felt
- inquire: to ask or investigate
- inquisitive: curious and eager to ask questions
- query: a question or request for information
- quest: a search or pursuit
Inquiry is seeking organized into questions.
The inquiry revealed a pattern nobody had noticed.
A loose doubt becomes a directed search.