quaesitor Latin · revision 34078

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *kʷeh₂-i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [kʷae̯ˈsiː.tɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [kʷeˈs̬iː.tor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''quaesītor''' ''m'' (genitive quaesītōris); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|quaerō|-tor|t1=to seek, inquire]], from the perfect stem ⟨quaesīt-⟩;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Wiktionary compares [[quaestor]], made from the present stem.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces the verb to [[itc-pro|*kʷai-s-e/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*kʷeh₂-i-|t=to acquire]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who writes of those in danger of prosecution who avoided this investigator and judge.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is first a member of an extraordinary commission to investigate a case, later the president of a criminal court, and perhaps any judge in a criminal trial: the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' says it is his task to keep accuser, defender and witness to their parts, and Sallust has three such investigators appointed under a law.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Virgil gives the title to Minos, judge of the dead.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also a seeker or inquirer: Gellius explains the Sceptics as investigators and considerers, and Seneca calls the wise man a keen searcher for natural riches.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Medieval Latin it is a plaintiff.^(Niermeyer 1976) Church Latin glosses it investigator.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a criminal investigator.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust of three commissioners.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of Minos.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius of the Sceptics.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' An [[m|en|investigator]], examiner; the president of a criminal court, a judge.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A seeker, inquirer, searcher.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|plaintiff]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quaero|alt=quaerō]]

+ * [[quaestor]]

+ * [[quaestio|alt=quaestiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}