interrogavate

Interrogavate is a neologism used to describe a mode of inquiry that blends interrogation with investigative methods. The term suggests a structured process in which questioning is guided by evidence, documents, and reconstructed timelines rather than informal inquiry alone.

Etymology: It is a portmanteau of interrogate and investigate. Earliest attestations appear in online discussions, academic comments about language, and speculative fiction in the early 21st century; it has not gained wide currency in major dictionaries.

Usage and connotation: In non-fiction contexts, interrogavate is not standard terminology and is mostly found in blogs, essays on investigative philosophy, or fiction. The sense conveyed is of rigor and persistence, but the term can carry connotations of aggressiveness depending on usage.

Examples: The team interrogavate the witness, aligning questions with documentary evidence to ensure consistency.

See also: interrogation, investigation, interviewing, cross-examination.

Notes: As of now, major reference works do not include interrogavate; its use remains limited and context-dependent.