*inquest*

n. [ OE. enqueste, OF. enqueste, F. enquête, LL. inquesta, for inquisita, fr. L. inquisitus, p. p. of inquirere. See Inquire. ] 1. Inquiry; quest; search. [ R. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul must make after science. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination, esp. before a jury; as, a coroner's inquest in case of a sudden death. (b) A body of men assembled under authority of law to inquire into any matter, civil or criminal, particularly any case of violent or sudden death; a jury, particularly a coroner's jury. The grand jury is sometimes called the grand inquest. See under Grand. (c) The finding of the jury upon such inquiry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coroner's inquest, an inquest held by a coroner to determine the cause of any violent, sudden, or mysterious death. See Coroner. --
Inquest of office, an inquiry made, by authority or direction of proper officer, into matters affecting the rights and interests of the crown or of the state. Craig. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]