catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Question \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.