quaestio Latin · revision 3751

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la quaero}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷae̯s.ti.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷɛs.ti.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''quaestiō''' ''f'' (genitive quaestiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|quaero|-tio|alt1=quaerō|t1=to seek]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) The verb is [[inh|itc-pro|*kʷai-s-e/o-]], perhaps from [[ine-pro|*kueh₂-i-|t=to acquire]], though its etymology is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) in the phrase ''in quaestione esse'', “to be looked for”: “mind you don't keep me looking for you”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==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”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant a judicial inquiry.^(OLD 2012) From 149 BC there were also standing courts for serious public crimes.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It came to mean a scientific investigation or research, as in Cicero, and a subject of discussion, a problem or question.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) English ''question'' came from it through Old French in the early 13th century, first as a philosophical or theological problem.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of searching and of questioning slaves.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 149 BC – The first standing court, ''quaestio perpetua'', is set up.^(OLD 2012)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of the questioning of prisoners.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of research.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''question'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Searching, a search.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An examination, interrogation (often under [[m|en|torture]]).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A judicial [[m|en|inquiry]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''quaestio perpetua'': a standing criminal court.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An investigation, research.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A problem, [[m|en|question]], issue.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quaestiōnārius]]

+ * [[quaestiono]]

+ * [[quaestiuncula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quaero]]

+ * [[en|question]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}