question

Meaning

Noun

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.
4. A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.
5. Interrogation by torture.
6. (obsolete) Talk; conversation; speech.

Verb

1. To ask questions of; to interrogate; to ask for information.
2. To raise doubts about; have doubts about.
3. To ask a question or questions; inquire or seek to know; examine.
4. (obsolete) To argue; to converse; to dispute.

Hyphenated as

ques‧tion

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkwɛst͡ʃən/

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”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”).
Partially displaced native Old English āscung. Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”).
Cognates include English quest.