different between question vs peremptory

English

Alternative forms

• quæstion (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English question, questioun, questiun, from Anglo-Norman questiun, from Old French question, from Latin quaesti?nem, accusative of quaesti? (“a seeking, investigation, inquiry, question”), from quaerere (“to seek, ask, inquire”). Displaced native Middle English frain, fraign (“question”) (from Old English fræ?n); compare Middle English frainen, freinen ("to inquire, question"; > Modern English frain), Middle English afrainen, affrainen (“to question”), German fragen (“to ask”) and Frage (“question”). Compare also Middle Low German qu?stie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kw?st???n/, /?kw?stj?n/, /?kw??t???n/
• (US also) IPA^(key): /?kw??t?n/
• Hyphenation: ques?tion

Noun

question (plural questions)

1. A sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response; an interrogative.

2. A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.
3. A doubt or challenge about the truth, accuracy, or validity of a matter.

   • There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

   • 1623, Francis Bacon, An Advertisement touching an Holy War

     It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes or states to make an invasive war, only and simply for the propagation of the faith.
4. A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.

5. (now archaic, historical, chiefly with definite article) Interrogation by torture.
   • 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, vol. II, ch. 77:

     I, not at all ambitious of the crown of martyrdom, resolved to temporize: so that, when I was brought to the question the second time, I made a solemn recantation […] .
6. (obsolete) Talk; conversation; speech.

Synonyms

• (interrogative): inquiry, enquiry, query, interrogation
• (subject): subject, topic, problem, consideration, proposition
• (doubt): issue, doubt
• (proposal): proposal

Derived terms

Related terms

• query
• quest

Translations

Verb

question (third-person singular simple present questions, present participle questioning, simple past and past participle questioned)

1. (transitive) To ask questions of; to interrogate; to ask for information.
2. (transitive) 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.

3. (intransitive) To ask a question or questions; inquire or seek to know; examine.
   • 1597, Francis Bacon, Of Discourse

     He that questioneth much shall learn much.

4. (intransitive, obsolete) To argue; to converse; to dispute.

Synonyms

• frain, quaeritate (obsolete)

Derived terms

• questioner

Translations

See also

• answer
• ask
• interrogative

References

• question in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• question at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Alternative forms

• quæstion (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French question, borrowed from Latin quaesti?, quaesti?nem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?s.tj??/
• Rhymes: -j??

Noun

question f (plural questions)

1. a question

2. a matter or issue; a problem

Derived terms

Further reading

• “question” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• quêtions, toniques

Interlingua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kwes?tjon/

Noun

question (plural questiones)

1. question

Middle English

Noun

question

1. Alternative form of questioun

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quaesti?, quaesti?nem.

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

• ? Middle English: questioun, question, questiun, questyon, questyounn, qwestyon, qwestioun
  • English: question
  • Scots: quaisten, quastin
  • ? Welsh: cwestiwn
• French: question
  • ? Romanian: chestie, chestiune
• Norman: tchestchion (Jersey)

References

• question on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman peremptorie, parentorie et al. (Modern French péremptoire), and its source, Latin perempt?rius (“deadly; decisive”), from perim? (“destroy”), from per- (“thorough”) + em? (“I take, I acquire”) (compare English emporium (“store”)).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p????mpt??i/

Adjective

peremptory (comparative more peremptory, superlative most peremptory)

1. (law) Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal
   • 1596, Francis Bacon, Maxims of the Law, II:

     there is no reason but if any of the outlawries be indeed without error, but it should be a peremptory plea to the person in a writ of error, as well as in any other action.

   Synonyms: positive, absolute, decisive, conclusive, final

2. Positive in opinion or judgment; absolutely certain, overconfident, unwilling to hear any debate or argument (especially in a pejorative sense); dogmatic.
   • 2003, Andrew Marr, The Guardian, 6 Jan 03:

     He marched under a placard reading "End Bossiness Now" but decided it was a little too peremptory, not quite British, so changed the slogan on subsequent badges, to "End Bossiness Soon."

3. (obsolete) Firmly determined, resolute; obstinate, stubborn.
4. Accepting no refusal or disagreement; imperious, dictatorial.
   • […] less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart.

   • 1999, Anthony Howard, The Guardian, 2 Jan 99:

     Though today (surveying that yellowing document) I shudder at the peremptory tone of the instructions I gave, Alastair - in that same volume in which I get chastised for my coverage of the Macmillan rally - was generous enough to remark that my memorandum became 'an office classic'.

Derived terms

• peremptorily
• peremptory challenge

Translations

Noun

peremptory (plural peremptories)

1. (law) A challenge to the admission of a juror, without the challenger needing to show good cause.
   • 2015 June 18, Justice Alito, Davis v. Ayala, Case No. 13-1428:

     Each side was allowed 20 peremptories, and the prosecution used 18 of its allotment.

References

• peremptory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• preemptory, preëmptory