Meaning

(formal, rare or obsolete) an enquiry.

Definitions by Sense

1. (formal, rare or obsolete) an enquiry
2. (formal, rare or obsolete) A question which cannot properly be given a one-word answer like “yes” or “no”.

Example Sentences

[Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "Percontation" percontation noun per·con·ta·tion ˌpərˌkän‧ˈtāshən plural -s archaic : an act or process of questioning : inquiry]

Percontation. An enquiry.

Percontation is a thing for which we cannot anſwer ſignificantly, as in Interrogation, yes: but as thus, he dwelleth in ſuch a place.

Of Dicibles (λεκτῶν) ſome are Defective, which have an imperfect Enunciation, as writeth; others are Perfect, as compleating the Sentence; ſome of which compleat it without Affirmation or Negation, Verity or Falſity, as in Interrogations, Percontations, Imperative Expreſſions, Adjurations, Imprecations, Wiſhes, Suppoſals, Exclamations, Compellations, and Dubitations: and others compleat the Sentence by Affirmation or Negation, and are always either true or falſe.

Whoever from the preceding iconism, by percontation, deambulation, perscuitation or otherwise, shall give intelligence of the nonpareil, and will apport or communicate the same to me, shall become reciprocal of a remuneration adequate to the emolument from John Hopkinson.

In all questions of this kind or percontations, the answer cannot be given in the same words without addition or with 'not' only added, though here too the language of mankind ordinarily furnishes appropriate abbreviations.

It is, therefore, to be so pronounced as that the first clause may be a percontation, and the second an interrogation. Between a percontation and interrogation, the ancients made this distinction—that the former admitted a variety of answers, while the latter must be replied to by 'yes' or 'no.' It must, therefore, be so read that, after the percontation—'Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?'—that which follows be pronounced in an interrogatory manner—'God that justifieth?'—that there may be a tacit answer, 'no.' And again we have the percontation—'Who is he that condemneth?' and again we interrogate—'Christ that died? or rather that is risen again? who is at the right hand of God? who also maketh intercession for us?' At each of which there is a tacit answer in the negative.

His [Denis Rearden's] question, or motion, or whatever it was, only fulfils the type of the usual percontations in Parliament. He only put into a Parliamentary shape out-of-door gossip; the club talk, or omnibus talk, or comic journal talk of the hour. And this is just what all sorts of Parliament men are doing every day.

Word Forms

• percontations
• percunctation

Related Words

When Should You Use Percontation?

Use percontation when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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