quaestio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷae̯s.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷɛs.ti.o]^[1]

Forms

quaestiō f (genitive quaestiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin quaerō (“to seek”) + -tio.^[2][1][3] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *kʷai-s-e/o-, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kueh₂-i- (“to acquire”), though its etymology is disputed.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[3][4] in the phrase in quaestione esse, “to be looked for”: “mind you don't keep me looking for you”.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

In Plautus it meant searching, and also the examination of witnesses, especially slaves under torture, as in “he offered all his slaves for questioning”.^[2][5] It meant a judicial inquiry.^[2] From 149 BC there were also standing courts for serious public crimes.^[2]

It came to mean a scientific investigation or research, as in Cicero, and a subject of discussion, a problem or question.^[2][1] English question came from it through Old French in the early 13th century, first as a philosophical or theological problem.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of searching and of questioning slaves.^[2][5][4]
• 149 BC – The first standing court, quaestio perpetua, is set up.^[2]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the questioning of prisoners.^[8][6][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of research.^[2][4]
• early 13th century – English question is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. Searching, a search.^[2][1]
2. An examination, interrogation (often under torture).^[2][1]
3. A judicial inquiry.^[2][1]
4. quaestio perpetua: a standing criminal court.^[2]
5. An investigation, research.^[2]
6. A problem, question, issue.^[2][1]

Word family

• quaestiōnārius
• quaestiono
• quaestiuncula

Related words

• quaero
• English question

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn