Question
a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.
a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.
a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed by of):
it was simply a question of time.
a subject of dispute or controversy.
a proposal to be debated or voted on, as in a meeting or a deliberative -ssembly.
the procedure of putting a proposal to vote.
politics. a problem of public policy submitted to the voters for an expression of opinion.
law.
a controversy that is submitted to a judicial tribunal or administrative agency for decision.
the interrogation by which information is secured.
obsolete. judicial examination or trial.
the act of asking or inquiring; interrogation; query.
inquiry into or discussion of some problem or doubtful matter.
to ask (someone) a question; ask questions of; interrogate.
to ask or inquire.
to make a question of; doubt:
he questioned her sincerity.
to challenge or dispute:
she questioned the judge’s authority in the case.
to ask a question or questions.
beg the question. beg1 (def 9).
beyond question, beyond dispute; without doubt:
it was, beyond question, a magnificent performance.
also, beyond all question.
call in / into question,
to dispute; challenge.
to cast doubt upon; question:
this report calls into question all previous research on the subject.
in question,
under consideration.
in dispute.
out of the question, not to be considered; unthinkable; impossible:
she thought about a trip to spain but dismissed it as out of the question.
contemporary examples
his death raises the question: should he have been transferred to the u.s. at all?
was flying hero doctor with ebola to the u.s. the wrong call? abby haglage november 16, 2014
the question is how we can keep this violent streak under wraps.
how glenn beck saves lives reihan salam june 18, 2009
the question that every author gets is, “where do you get your ideas?”
r.l. stine’s secret to scaring the cr-p out of kids kevin fallon october 2, 2014
and we are slowly calling into question our cultural prudishness about s-x.
petraeus affair stereotypes: the general, the flirt and the harlot robin givhan november 14, 2012
the question that will inevitably be asked, of course, is why are we still interested in her?
laugh all you like at her dumb party tips, but pippa has the midas touch tom sykes august 28, 2013
historical examples
the line in question is 700 meters long–770 yards–and has two lines of way.
scientific american supplement, no. 417 various
from that moment on, no jew dared to question the authority of moses.
ancient man hendrik willem van loon
all this is perfectly just, but it is also altogether beside the question.
old-fashioned ethics and common-sense metaphysics william thomas thornton
arrived at calcutta, the question arose: “what shall we do with him?”
brave and bold horatio alger
now she felt so sure of it that it was beyond contempt of question.
capt’n davy’s honeymoon hall caine
noun
a form of words addressed to a person in order to elicit information or evoke a response; interrogative sentence
a point at issue: it’s only a question of time until she dies, the question is how long they can keep up the pressure
a difficulty or uncertainty; doubtful point: a question of money, there’s no question about it
an act of asking
an investigation into some problem or difficulty
a motion presented for debate by a deliberative body
put the question, to require members of a deliberative -ssembly to vote on a motion presented
(law) a matter submitted to a court or other tribunal for judicial or quasi-judicial decision
question of fact, (in english law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the jury
question of law, (in english law) that part of the issue before a court that is decided by the judge
beg the question
to avoid giving a direct answer by posing another question
to -ssume the truth of that which is intended to be proved see pet-tio principii
beyond (all) question, beyond (any) dispute or doubt
call in, into question
to make (something) the subject of disagreement
to cast doubt upon the validity, truth, etc, of (something)
in question, under discussion: this is the man in question
out of the question, beyond consideration; unthinkable or impossible: the marriage is out of the question
(informal) pop the question, to propose marriage
verb (mainly transitive)
to put a question or questions to (a person); interrogate
to make (something) the subject of dispute or disagreement
to express uncertainty about the validity, truth, etc, of (something); doubt
n.
early 13c., “philosophical or theological problem;” early 14c. as “utterance meant to elicit an answer or discussion,” also as “a difficulty, a doubt,” from anglo-french questiun, old french question “question, difficulty, problem; legal inquest, interrogation, torture,” from latin quaestionem (nominative quaestio) “a seeking, a questioning, inquiry, examining, judicial investigation,” noun of action from past participle stem of quaerere “ask, seek” (see query (v.)).
no question “undoubtedly” is from mid-15c; no questions asked “accountability not required” is from 1879 (especially in newspaper advertis-m-nts seeking the return of something lost or stolen). question mark is from 1849, sometimes also question stop (1862); figurative use is from 1869. to be out of the question (c.1700) is to be not pertinent to the subject, hence “not to be considered.”
v.
late 15c., from question (n.) and from middle french questionner “ask questions, interrogate, torture” (13c.), from question (n.). related: questioned; questioning. alternative questionize attested from 1847.
see:
ask a stupid question
beg the question
beside the point (question)
beyond question
burning question
call in question
in question
leading question
loaded question
open question
out of the question
pop the question
rhetorical question
without question
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