quest

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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. 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 ]