investigate English · revision 6095

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, back-formation|attested=c. 1510|origins=la vestīgium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈves.tɪ.ɡeɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a back-formation from [[investigation]], after [[bor|la|investīgātus]], the past participle of [[m|la|investīgāre|t=to trace out, search into]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|in-|t=in, into]] and [[m|la|vestīgāre|t=to track, trace]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|la|vestīgium|t=footprint, track]] (see [[vestige]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To search or inquire into, to examine a matter systematically: about 1510.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin verb was first a hunter's word, to follow tracks, and only figuratively to search into.^(Etymonline) The intransitive use, to make a search or inquire systematically, is also from about 1510,^(OED 1989) and the literal sense of tracing out or tracking, rare in English, is recorded in 1774 and is obsolete.^(OED 1989) [[investigation|alt=Investigation]] is older, apparently before 1425 in a translation of Higden's ''Polychronicon'',^(Barnhart 1988) and [[investigator]] is from 1552.^(Barnhart 1988) Collins notes that it is used especially of inquiries into a crime or a death.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – investigation.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1510 – to investigate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1552 – investigator.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1774 – to track, trace (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[inquire]] into or examine something in detail and systematically, especially to find out the truth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make a detailed inquiry or systematic examination.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[investigable]]

+ * [[investigation]]

+ * [[investigative]]

+ * [[investigator]]

+ * [[investigatory]]

+ * [[uninvestigated]]

+ * [[reinvestigate]]

+ * [[uninvestigating]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[investigational]]

+ * [[vestige]]

+ * [[vestigial]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}