interrogative, a. and n.
(ɪntəˈrɒgətɪv)
[ad. late L. interrogātīv-us: see interrogate v. and -ive. Cf. F. interrogatif, -ive (1507 in Godef.).]
A. adj.
1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of questioning; having the form or force of a question.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxiii. §3 The Baptisme, which saveth vs, is..επερώτηµα, an interrogative triall of a good conscience towards God. 1661–98 South Twelve Serm. III. 5 Nor does this Interrogative way of Expression import only a bare Negation of the Thing. 1711 J. Greenwood Eng. Gram. 209 The substantive comes before the verb except in an Interrogative sentence. 1853 Kingsley Hypatia xxviii. 354 Miriam made interrogative signs, which Pelagia understood as asking her whether she was alone. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 152 The Platonic ideas are tested by the interrogative method of Socrates. |
2. Rhet. and Gram. Of a word or form: Employed in asking a question.
interrogative pronouns, the pronouns who? which? what? whether? interrogative adverbs, such as where? when? why? wherefore? interrogative point = interrogation 2 b.
| 1520 Whitinton Vulg. (1527) 6 Nownes interrogatyue as quis, uter. 1530 Palsgr. 80 Of the pronownes interrogatives. c 1532 G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 994 The conjugation interrogative, as, Am I? suis je? 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. iv. [v.] (Arb.) 89 His comma, colon and interrogatiue point. 1620 T. Granger Div. Logike 250 The interrogative particle, whether. 1845 Stoddart Gram. in Encycl. Metrop. I. 186/1 The..interrogative form of the verb. |
3. Given to asking questions; inquisitive. rare.
| 1709 Steele Tatler No. 140 ¶11 Such Interrogative Gentlewomen are to be answered no other Way than by Interrogation. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz iv, He is a tall, thin, bony man, with an interrogative nose, and little restless perking eyes. |
B. n.
1. An interrogation, a question. rare.
| 1581 Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 30 These men..with a scornefull interogatiue, doe..aske. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 295 Olenus Calenus..intended by subtill interrogatiue to translate the benefit thereof to his owne native countrey of Tuscane. 1847 Jeffrey Let. in Cockburn Life II. cxciv, I do expect and require an answer to all these interrogatives. |
2. Gram. A word or form employed in asking a question; esp. an interrogative pronoun.
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 29 Relatyves as qui or lequel; interrogatyves as qui. 1533 Udall Flowres 104 (R.) For al voices that are relatiues, may sometimes be interrogatiues, as whan they aske a question. 1763 Lowth Eng. Gram. (1838) 39 Who, which, what, are called Interrogatives, when they are used in asking questions. 1875 Whitney Life Lang. v. 96 They [relatives] are demonstratives and interrogatives put to a new use. |