This is the 6964th most frequent Portuguese word.
inquisição
"Inquisição" means "inquisition" in English, referring to a formal investigation or questioning, often associated with the historical institution enforcing religious orthodoxy.
In this sentence, 'Inquisição' refers to the historical institution established by the Catholic Church to address and suppress heretical teachings.
A Inquisição era uma instituição criada para combater heresias.
The Inquisition was an institution created to combat heresies.
Here, 'inquisição' metaphorically represents an intense and prolonged questioning or interrogation process, drawing symbolic meaning from the historical practice.
Ele enfrentou uma verdadeira inquisição ao ser interrogado por horas.
He faced a true inquisition when he was interrogated for hours.
In this usage, 'inquisição' conveys a figurative sense of persistent probing or inquisitiveness, likening the behavior to the thoroughness of inquisitional practices.