quaestor

Or ques·tor

[kwes-ter, kwee-ster]

noun

Roman History.

1. one of two subordinates of the consuls serving as public prosecutors in certain criminal cases.

2. (later) one of the public magistrates in charge of the state funds, as treasury officers or those attached to the consuls and provincial governors.

quaestor

/ ˈkwɛstə, -tɔː, ˈkwiːstə, kwɛˈstɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. any of several magistrates of ancient Rome, usually a financial administrator

Other Word Forms

• quaestorial adjective
• quaestorship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaestor¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English questor, from Latin quaestor, equivalent to quaes-, base of quaerere “to seek” + -tor noun suffix; -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaestor¹

C14: from Latin, from quaerere to inquire

Example Sentences

The South East of England MEP is one of five of the parliament’s “quaestors”, meaning she scrutinises funding and administration.

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When he returned from his first political posting, as quaestor in Sicily, for instance, he imagined his fame would have spread far and wide.

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He procured in some way the post of a clerkship in the quaestor’s office, and about three years after the battle of Philippi, he was introduced by Virgil and Varius to Maecenas.

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That he had become a man of some note in that capacity is suggested by the fact that he attracted the attention of the Roman quaestor Cato, and accompanied him to Rome.

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In 101 Hadrian was quaestor, in 105 tribune of the people, in 106 praetor.

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Related Words

• officer