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investigation (n.)early 15c., from Old French investigacion (14c.), from Latin investigationem (nominative investigatio) "a searching into, a searching for," noun of action from past participle stem of investigare "to trace out, search after," figuratively "search into, investigate," from in- "in, into" (from PIE root *en "in") + vestigare "to track, trace," from vestigium "a footprint, a track" (see vestige).
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investigative (adj.)
Related entries & more "of or pertaining to investigation, curious and deliberative in research," 1803, from Latin investigat-, past-participle stem of investigare (see investigation) + -ive. Journalism sense is from 1951.
investigator (n.)1550s, a native agent-noun formation from investigate, or else from Latin investigator "he that searches into," agent noun from past participle stem of investigare "to trace out, search after" (see investigation). Related: Investigatorial.
Related entries & more investigate (v.)c. 1500, back-formation from investigation or else from Latin investigatus, past participle of investigare "to trace out, search after," figuratively "search into, investigate," from in- "in, into" (from PIE root *en "in") + vestigare "to track, trace," from vestigium "footprint, track" (see vestige). Related: Investigated; investigating.
Related entries & more FBI U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, formed 1935 from the former United States Bureau of Investigation (1908).
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microscopy (n.)
Related entries & more "act or art of using a microscope; investigation with a microscope," 1660s, from microscope + -y (4).
inquiring (adj.)"given to inquiry or investigation," 1590s, present-participle adjective from inquire (v.). Related: Inquiringly.
Related entries & more scan (n.)
Related entries & more 1706, "a close investigation, an act of scanning," from scan (v.). The meaning "image obtained by scanning" is from 1953.
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