I. ˈkwest noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French queste, Vulgar Latin * quaesta, from Latin, feminine of quaestus, past participle of quaerere
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a jury of inquest
b. : investigation
2. : an act or instance of seeking:
a. : pursuit , search
b. : a chivalrous enterprise in medieval romance usually involving an adventurous journey
3. obsolete : a person or group of persons who search or make inquiry
II. verb
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1. of a dog
a. : to search a trail
b. : bay
2. : to go on a quest
transitive verb
1. : to search for
2. : to ask for
• quest·er noun