investigate
English Edit
Etymology Edit
Recorded since circa 1510, a back-formation from investigation, from Latin investīgātiō (“a searching into”), from investīgātus, the past participle of investigare, equivalent to in- + vestigate. Displaced native Old English undersēċan (literally “to search under or between”).
Pronunciation Edit
Verb Edit
investigate (third-person singular simple present investigates, present participle investigating, simple past and past participle investigated)
- (transitive) To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
- to investigate the causes of natural phenomena
- (transitive) To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.
- to investigate an unsolved murder
- (intransitive) To conduct an inquiry or examination.
- 1903, Jack London, The Shadow and the Flash:
- "Why don't you investigate?" he demanded. And investigate I did.
Synonyms Edit
Related terms Edit
Translations Edit
to inquire into, study
to examine
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to conduct an inquiry or examination
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Further reading Edit
- “investigate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “investigate”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “investigate”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Italian Edit
Etymology 1 Edit
Verb Edit
investigate
- inflection of investigare:
Etymology 2 Edit
Participle Edit
investigate f pl
Latin Edit
Verb Edit
investīgāte
Spanish Edit
Verb Edit
investigate
- second-person singular voseo imperative of investigar combined with te