question

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English question, questioun, questiun, 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"; > Modern English frain), Middle English afrainen, affrainen (“to question”), German fragen (“to ask”)/ German Frage (“question”). Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈkwɛst͡ʃən/, /ˈkwɛstjən/, /ˈkwɛʃt͡ʃən/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: ques‧tion
  • Audio (US)(file)

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
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Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun question

Translations
talk; conversation; speech — see talk,‎ conversation,‎ speech
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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.
    • 2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
      He questioned South Korean claims that China is a major source of its pollution.
      Audio (US)(file)
  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.
  • question at OneLook Dictionary Search
  1. question in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French question, borrowed from Latin quaestiō, quaestiōnem.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kɛs.tjɔ̃/
  • Audio (France)(file)
  • Rhymes: -jɔ̃

Noun

question f (plural questions)

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

Further reading

Anagrams

Interlingua

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kwesˈtjon/

Noun

question (plural questiones)

  1. question

Middle English

Noun

question

  1. Alternative form of questioun

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed 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
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