\Ques"tion\, 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.
2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as,
   the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without
   question.
         There arose a question between some of John's
         disciples and the Jews about purifying. -- John iii.
                                               25.
         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.
3. Examination with reference to a decisive result;
   investigation; specifically, a judicial or official
   investigation; also, examination under torture.
   --Blackstone.
         He that was in question for the robbery. Shak. The
         Scottish privy council had power to put state
         prisoners to the question.            --Macaulay.
4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query.
         But this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives
         there who loves his pain ?            --Milton.
5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate;
   theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a
   delicate or doubtful question.
6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [Obs.] --Shak.
{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.
Note: 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.
Syn: Point; topic; subject.

\Ques"tion\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Questioned}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Questioning}.] [Cf. F. questionner. See {Question},
n.]
1. To ask questions; to inquire.
         He that questioneth much shall learn much. --Bacon.
2. To argue; to converse; to dispute. [Obs.]
         I pray you, think you question with the Jew. --Shak.

\Ques"tion\, v. t.
1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by
   interrogatories; as, to question a witness.
2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query.
         And most we question what we most desire. --Prior.
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.
4. To talk to; to converse with.
         With many holiday and lady terms he questioned me.
                                               -- Shak.
Syn: To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert;
     dispute.
Usage: 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.