investigate

English

Etymology

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

  • IPA(key): [ɪn.ˈvɛs.tɪ.ɡeɪ̯t]
  • (file)

Verb

investigate (third-person singular simple present investigates, present participle investigating, simple past and past participle investigated)

  1. (transitive) To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
    to investigate the causes of natural phenomena
  2. (transitive) To examine, look into, or scrutinize in order to discover something hidden or secret.
    to investigate an unsolved murder
  3. (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

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading

  • investigate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • investigate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
  • investigate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Italian

Verb

investigate

  1. inflection of investigare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Participle

investigate f pl

  1. feminine plural of investigato

Latin

Verb

investīgāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of investīgō
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