v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cross-questioned p. pr. & vb. n. Cross-questioning. ] To cross-examine; to subject to close questioning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a question asked in cross-examination. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n. ] 1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. [ 1913 Webster ]

There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. John iii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that was in question for the robbery. Shak.
The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query. [ 1913 Webster ]

But this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question. --
Leading question. See under Leading. --
Out of question, unquestionably. “Out of question, 't is Maria's hand.” Shak. --
Out of the question. See under Out. --
Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably. --
Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration. The form of the question is: “Shall the main question be now put?” If the vote is in the affirmative, the matter before the body must be voted upon as it then stands, without further general debate or the submission of new amendments. In the House of Representatives of the United States, and generally in America, a negative decision operates to keep the business before the body as if the motion had not been made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to postpone consideration for the day, and until the subject may be again introduced. In American practice, the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is made by a friend of the measure. In English practice, the object is to get rid of the subject for the time being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting against it. Cushing. --
To beg the question. See under Beg. --
To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Point; topic; subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Questioned p. pr. & vb. n. Questioning. ] [ Cf. F. questionner. See Question, n. ] 1. To ask questions; to inquire. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that questioneth much shall learn much. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To argue; to converse; to dispute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I pray you, think you question with the Jew. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query. [ 1913 Webster ]

And most we question what we most desire. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to. “But have power and right to question thy bold entrance on this place.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To talk to; to converse with. [ 1913 Webster ]

With many holiday and lady terms he questioned me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert; dispute. -- Question, Inquire, Interrogate. To inquire is merely to ask for information, and implies no authority in the one who asks. To interrogate is to put repeated questions in a formal or systematic fashion to elicit some particular fact or facts. To question has a wider sense than to interrogate, and often implies an attitude of distrust or opposition on the part of the questioner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being questionable. Stallo. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Admitting of being questioned; inviting, or seeming to invite, inquiry. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Liable to question; subject to be doubted or called in question; problematical; doubtful; suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is questionable whether Galen ever saw the dissection of a human body.T. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Disputable; debatable; uncertain; doubtful; problematical; suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being questionable, doubtful, or suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a questionable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who makes it his business to seek after relics and carry them about for sale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A set of questions for submission to a group of persons for the purpose of bringing out their resemblances and differences in the matter considered. The questionary method is a recognized form of psychological investigation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Inquiring; asking questions; testing. “Questionary epistles.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who asks questions; an inquirer. “Little time for idle questioners.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A questioner; an inquirer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Univ.) A candidate for honors or degrees who is near the time of his examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unquestioning; incurious. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Beyond a question or doubt; doubtless; certainly. [ R. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

What it was in the apostles' time, that, questionless, it must be still. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -naires [ F. ] 1. same as Questionary. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A list of questions, usually on a printed form, to be answered by an individual. The forms often have blank spaces in which the answers can be written. Sets of such forms are distributed to groups and the answers used for various purposes, such as to obtain statistical information for social science, political, or marketing research, or to obtain information about a patient for the use of medical practitioners. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Not questionable; as, an unquestionable title. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not inviting questions or conversation. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Un*ques"tion*a*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. 1. Not called in question; not doubted. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not interrogated; having no questions asked; not examined or examined into. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

She muttering prayers, as holy rites she meant,
Through the divided crowd unquestioned went. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Indisputable; not to be opposed or impugned. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their unquestioned pleasures must be served. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]