Etymologically
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quaestio

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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

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