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To seek or search out. [Obs.]

t in business, but industrious in pleasure; an industrious mischief maker. Industrious to seek out the truth of all things. Spenser. -- In*dus"tri*ous*ly, adv. -- In*dus"tri*ous*ness, n.

To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries. We will call the damsel, and inquire. Gen. xxiv. 57. Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him. 1 Sam. xxiii. 4.

The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning. He could no path nor track of foot descry, Nor by inquiry learn, nor guess by aim. Spenser. The men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. Acts x. 17.…

The quality or state of being inquisitive; the disposition to seek explanation and information; curiosity to learn what is unknown; esp., uncontrolled and impertinent curiosity. Mr. Boswell, whose inquisitiveness is seconded by great activity, scrambled in at a high window. Johnson. Curiosity in children nature has pro…

rpowering; as, an irresistible attraction. An irresistible law of our nature impels us to seek happiness. J. M. Mason.

To seek private gain under pretense of public service; to turn public matters to private advantage. And judges job, and bishops bite the town. Pope.

k with a club; to knock on the door. For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked. Dryden. Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matt. vii. 7. To knock about, to go about, taking knocks or rough usage; to wander about; to saunter. [Colloq.] "Knocking about town." W. Irving. -- To knock up, to…

knocks; specifically, an instrument, or kind of hammer, fastened to a door, to be used in seeking for admittance. Shut, shut the door, good John ! fatigued, knocker; say I'm sick, I'm dead. Pope.

fresh-water lake by reason of waterfalls or dams; -- said of fishes that would naturally seek the sea, after spawning; as, the landlocked salmon.

nts of the legislative body. -- Sumptuary law. See under Sumptuary. -- To go to law, to seek a settlement of any matter by bringing it before the courts of law; to sue or prosecute some one. -- To take, or have, the law of, to bring the law to bear upon; as, to take the law of one's neighbor. Addison. -- Wager of l…

dition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level. When merit shall find its level. F. W. Robertson.

en declaration or statement by the plaintiff of his cause of action, and of the relief he seeks.

that it likes me much better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature. Sir P. Sidney.

To seek; to search. My subject does not oblige me to look after the water, or point forth the place where to it is now retreated. Woodward. -- To look at, to direct the eyes toward so that one sees, or as if to see; as, to look at a star; hence, to observe, examine, consider; as, to look at a matter without prejudice.…

ory or burdensome; to disengage; hence, to absolve; to remit. Art thou loosed from a wife seek not a wife. 1 Cor. vii. 27. Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt. xvi. 19.

That toward which a missile is directed; a thing aimed at; what one seeks to hit or reach. France was a fairer mark to shoot at than Ireland. Davies. Whate'er the motive, pleasure is the mark. Young.

Intermediate; intervening. Will, seeking good, finds many middle ends. Sir J. Davies.

To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The p…

Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.