*ques*

n. [ OE. biquest, corrupted fr. bequide; pref. be- + AS. cwide a saying, becweðan to bequeath. The ending -est is probably due to confusion with quest. See Bequeath, Quest. ] 1. The act of bequeathing or leaving by will; as, a bequest of property by A. to B. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a legacy; also, a gift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To bequeath, or leave as a legacy. [ Obs. ] “All I have to bequest.” Gascoigne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. conquest, conqueste, F. conquête, LL. conquistum, conquista, prop. p. p. from L. conquirere. See Conquer. ] 1. The act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or moral; subjection; subjugation; victory. [ 1913 Webster ]

In joys of conquest he resigns his breath. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Three years sufficed for the conquest of the country. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Feudal Law) The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of gaining or regaining by successful struggle; as, the conquest of liberty or peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Conquest (Eng. Hist.), the subjugation of England by William of Normandy in 1066. The
Norman Conquest.

Syn. -- Victory; triumph; mastery; reduction; subjugation; subjection. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cross-questioned p. pr. & vb. n. Cross-questioning. ] To cross-examine; to subject to close questioning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a question asked in cross-examination. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Deliquesced p. pr. & vb. n. Deliquescing. ] [ L. deliquescere to melt, dissolve; de- + liquescere to become fluid, melt, fr. liquere to be fluid. See Liquid. ] (Chem.) To dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts, acids, and alkalies.

In very moist air crystals of strontites deliquesce. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. déliquescence. ] The act of deliquescing or liquefying; process by which anything deliquesces; tendency to melt. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. deliquescens, -entis, p. pr. of deliquescere: cf. F. déliquescent. ] 1. Dissolving; liquefying by contact with the air; capable of attracting moisture from the atmosphere and becoming liquid; as, deliquescent salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Branching so that the stem is lost in branches, as in most deciduous trees. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who rides on horseback; a horseman; a rider. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. equester, from eques horseman, fr. equus horse: cf. F. équestre. See Equine. ] 1. Of or pertaining to horses or horsemen, or to horsemanship; as, equestrian feats, or games. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Being or riding on horseback; mounted; as, an equestrian statue. [ 1913 Webster ]

An equestrian lady appeared upon the plains. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Belonging to, or composed of, the ancient Roman equities or knights; as, the equestrian order. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art of riding on horseback; performance on horseback; horsemanship; as, feats equestrianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Formed after analogy of the French language. ] A woman skilled in equestrianism; a horsewoman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. enqueste, OF. enqueste, F. enquête, LL. inquesta, for inquisita, fr. L. inquisitus, p. p. of inquirere. See Inquire. ] 1. Inquiry; quest; search. [ R. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The laborious and vexatious inquest that the soul must make after science. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) Judicial inquiry; official examination, esp. before a jury; as, a coroner's inquest in case of a sudden death. (b) A body of men assembled under authority of law to inquire into any matter, civil or criminal, particularly any case of violent or sudden death; a jury, particularly a coroner's jury. The grand jury is sometimes called the grand inquest. See under Grand. (c) The finding of the jury upon such inquiry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Coroner's inquest, an inquest held by a coroner to determine the cause of any violent, sudden, or mysterious death. See Coroner. --
Inquest of office, an inquiry made, by authority or direction of proper officer, into matters affecting the rights and interests of the crown or of the state. Craig. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Liquescent. ] The quality or state of being liquescent. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. liquescens, p. pr. of liquescere to become liquid, incho. fr. liquere to be liquid. ] Tending to become liquid; inclined to melt; melting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Sp. marques. See Marquis. ] A marquis. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lady marquess, a marchioness. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The long-tailed, or resplendent, trogon (Pharomachus mocinno, formerly Trogon resplendens), native of Southern Mexico and Central America. Called also quetzal, and golden trogon. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The male is remarkable for the brilliant metallic green and gold colors of his plumage, and for his extremely long plumes, which often exceed three feet in length. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. queste, F. quête, fr. L. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, to ask. Cf. Query, Question. ] 1. The act of seeking, or looking after anything; attempt to find or obtain; search; pursuit; as, to rove in quest of game, of a lost child, of property, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon an hard adventure yet in quest. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cease your quest of love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There ended was his quest, there ceased his care. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Request; desire; solicitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gad not abroad at every quest and call
Of an untrained hope or passion. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those who make search or inquiry, taken collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

The senate hath sent about three several quests to search you out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Inquest; jury of inquest. [ 1913 Webster ]

What lawful quest have given their verdict ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. OF. quester, F. quêter. See Quest, n. ] To search for; to examine. [ R. ] Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To go on a quest; to make a search; to go in pursuit; to beg. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If his questing had been unsuccessful, he appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. questant, F. quêtant, p. pr. ] One who undertakes a quest; a seeker. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who seeks; a seeker. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n. ] 1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question. [ 1913 Webster ]

There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. John iii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that was in question for the robbery. Shak.
The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query. [ 1913 Webster ]

But this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question. --
Leading question. See under Leading. --
Out of question, unquestionably. “Out of question, 't is Maria's hand.” Shak. --
Out of the question. See under Out. --
Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably. --
Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration. The form of the question is: “Shall the main question be now put?” If the vote is in the affirmative, the matter before the body must be voted upon as it then stands, without further general debate or the submission of new amendments. In the House of Representatives of the United States, and generally in America, a negative decision operates to keep the business before the body as if the motion had not been made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to postpone consideration for the day, and until the subject may be again introduced. In American practice, the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is made by a friend of the measure. In English practice, the object is to get rid of the subject for the time being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting against it. Cushing. --
To beg the question. See under Beg. --
To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Point; topic; subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Questioned p. pr. & vb. n. Questioning. ] [ Cf. F. questionner. See Question, n. ] 1. To ask questions; to inquire. [ 1913 Webster ]

He that questioneth much shall learn much. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To argue; to converse; to dispute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I pray you, think you question with the Jew. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query. [ 1913 Webster ]

And most we question what we most desire. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to. “But have power and right to question thy bold entrance on this place.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To talk to; to converse with. [ 1913 Webster ]

With many holiday and lady terms he questioned me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert; dispute. -- Question, Inquire, Interrogate. To inquire is merely to ask for information, and implies no authority in the one who asks. To interrogate is to put repeated questions in a formal or systematic fashion to elicit some particular fact or facts. To question has a wider sense than to interrogate, and often implies an attitude of distrust or opposition on the part of the questioner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or condition of being questionable. Stallo. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Admitting of being questioned; inviting, or seeming to invite, inquiry. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou com'st in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Liable to question; subject to be doubted or called in question; problematical; doubtful; suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is questionable whether Galen ever saw the dissection of a human body.T. Baker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Disputable; debatable; uncertain; doubtful; problematical; suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being questionable, doubtful, or suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a questionable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who makes it his business to seek after relics and carry them about for sale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A set of questions for submission to a group of persons for the purpose of bringing out their resemblances and differences in the matter considered. The questionary method is a recognized form of psychological investigation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Inquiring; asking questions; testing. “Questionary epistles.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who asks questions; an inquirer. “Little time for idle questioners.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A questioner; an inquirer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Univ.) A candidate for honors or degrees who is near the time of his examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unquestioning; incurious. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Beyond a question or doubt; doubtless; certainly. [ R. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

What it was in the apostles' time, that, questionless, it must be still. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -naires [ F. ] 1. same as Questionary. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A list of questions, usually on a printed form, to be answered by an individual. The forms often have blank spaces in which the answers can be written. Sets of such forms are distributed to groups and the answers used for various purposes, such as to obtain statistical information for social science, political, or marketing research, or to obtain information about a patient for the use of medical practitioners. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Questmen One legally empowered to make quest of certain matters, esp. of abuses of weights and measures. Specifically: (a) A churchwarden's assistant; a sidesman. Blount. [ Obs. ] (b) A collector of parish rents. Blount. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who lays informations, and encourages petty lawsuits. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. quaestor, contr. fr. quaesitor, fr. quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, ask: cf. F. questeur. ] (Rom. Antiq.) An officer who had the management of the public treasure; a receiver of taxes, tribute, etc.; treasurer of state. [ Written also quæstor. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ At an early period there were also public accusers styled questors, but the office was soon abolished. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office, or the term of office, of a questor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Quest. ] A seeker; a pursuer. [ Obs. ] “Hot questrists after him.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One employed to collect profits. [ R. ] “The pope's questuaries.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. quaestuarius, from quaestus gain, profit, quaerere, quaesitum, to seek for, earn. ] Studious of profit. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Quinque- + syllable. ] A word of five syllables. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A second conquest. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. requeste, OF. requeste, F. requête, LL. requesta, for requisita, fr. L. requirere, requisitum, to seek again, ask for. See Require, and cf. Quest. ] 1. The act of asking for anything desired; expression of desire or demand; solicitation; prayer; petition; entreaty. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will marry her, sir, at your request. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is asked for or requested. “He gave them their request.” Ps. cvi. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will both hear and grant you your requests. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A state of being desired or held in such estimation as to be sought after or asked for; demand. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge and fame were in as great request as wealth among us now. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

Court of Requests. (a) A local tribunal, sometimes called Court of Consience, founded by act of Parliament to facilitate the recovery of small debts from any inhabitant or trader in the district defined by the act; -- now mostly abolished. (b) A court of equity for the relief of such persons as addressed the sovereign by supplication; -- now abolished. It was inferior to the Court of Chancery. [ Eng. ] Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Asking; solicitation; petition; prayer; supplication; entreaty; suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Requested; p. pr. & vb. n. Requesting. ] [ Cf. OF. requester, F. requêter. ] 1. To ask for (something); to express desire ffor; to solicit; as, to request his presence, or a favor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To address with a request; to ask. [ 1913 Webster ]

I request you
To give my poor host freedom. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To ask; solicit; entreat; beseech. See Beg. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who requests; a petitioner. [ 1913 Webster ]