3. A point, mark, or sign, thus [?], indicating that the sentence with
which it is connected is a question. It is used to express doubt, or to
mark a query. Called also interrogation point.
In works printed in the Spanish language this mark is not only placed
at the end of an interrogative sentence, but is also placed, inverted
[as thus ()], at the beginning.
In`ter*rog"a*tive (&?;), a. [L. interrogativus: cf. F. interrogatif.]
Denoting a question; expressed in the form of a question; as, an
interrogative sentence; an interrogative pronoun.
In`ter*rog"a*tive, n. (Gram.) A word used in asking questions; as, who?
which? why?
In`ter*rog"a*tive*ly, adv. In the form of, or by means of, a question;
in an interrogative manner.
In*ter"ro*ga`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. interrogateur.] One who asks
questions; a questioner.
In`ter*rog"a*to*ry (?), n.; pl. Interrogatories (#). [Cf. F.
interrogatoire.] A formal question or inquiry; esp. (Law), a question
asked in writing. Macaulay.
In`ter*rog"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. interrogatorius.] Containing,
expressing, or implying a question; as, an interrogatory sentence.
In`ter*rupt" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Interrupting.] [L. interruptus, p. p. of interrumpere to interrupt;
inter between + rumpere to break. See Rupture.]
1. To break into, or between; to stop, or hinder by breaking in upon
the course or progress of; to interfere with the current or motion of;
to cause a temporary cessation of; as, to interrupt the remarks of
anyone speaking.
Do not interrupt me in my course.
Shak.
2. To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of; as, the evenness
of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.
In`ter*rupt", p. a. [L. interruptus, p. p.] Broken; interrupted. [Obs.]
Milton.
In`ter*rupt"ed, a. 1. Broken; intermitted; suddenly stopped.
2. (Bot.) Irregular; -- said of any arrangement whose symmetry is
destroyed by local causes, as when leaflets are interposed among the
leaves in a pinnate leaf.
In`ter*rupt"ed*ly, adv. With breaks or interruptions; discontinuously.
Interruptedly pinnate (Bot.), pinnate with small leaflets intermixed
with large ones. Gray.
In`ter*rupt"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, interrupts.
2. (Elec.) A device for opening and closing an electrical circuit; a
vibrating spring or tuning fork, arranged to make and break a circuit
at rapidly recurring intervals, by the action of the current itself.