* Noun: This is the most common usage. It refers to a period of intense questioning or investigation, often with the aim of uncovering heresy or other wrongdoing.
* Example: "The Spanish Inquisition was a period of religious persecution."
* Verb: It can also be a verb, meaning to question someone intensely or formally.
* Example: "The police inquisition lasted for hours."
Let me know if you have a specific sentence in mind, and I can help you determine the part of speech in that context!