/,ɪnkwɪ'zɪʃn; ,ɪnkwə`zɪʃən/
n
1 the Inquisition(also the Holy `Office) [sing] organization appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to suppress heresy (esp from the 15th to the 17th century) （天主教镇压异教徒的）异端裁判所, 宗教法庭（尤指15至17世纪的）.
2 [C] ~ (into sth) (fml or joc 文或谑) investigation or interrogation, esp one that is severe and looks closely into details 调查, 查究, 盘问（尤指严格而详细的）
*I was subjected to a lengthy inquisition into the state of my marriage and the size of my bank balance. 有关方面就我的婚姻状况以及银行存款余额对我进行了详细的调查.

n
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French;Origin:Latin inquirere; INQUIRE]
the Inquisition
a Roman Catholic organization in the past whose aim was to find and punish people who had unacceptable religious beliefs
[C usually singular]
a series of questions that someone asks you in a threatening or unpleasant way
　I had to face a two-hour inquisition from my parents about where I'd been.