quaerō

Uncertain. According to Nussbaum and de Vaan, from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”), via a se/o-present built upon an i-present form *kʷeh₂-i- (“to acquire”). In this case, cognates would include Ancient Greek πέπαμαι (pépamai, “to get, acquire”), Old Prussian quoi (“I/you want”) and quāits (“desire”), Lithuanian kviẽsti (“to invite”).

In some sources etymologized as being from Proto-Indo-European *kʷoys-, *kʷeys- (“to see”), but this was deemed uncertain by Schrijver in 1991.

LIV accepts Szemerényi's 1960 etymology that it is a derivation of *h₂eys- (“to seek, ask”), via the form *koaiseo.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈkʷae̯.roː/, [ˈkʷäe̯roː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈkwe.ro/, [ˈkwɛːro]

Verb

quaerō (present infinitive quaerere, perfect active quaesīvī or quaesiī, supine quaesītum); third conjugation

1. to seek, look for [ synonyms, antonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: requīrō, studeō, spectō, petō, appetō, affectō, cupiō, concupiō, inquīrō, conquīrō, expetō, dēstinō, sitiō, aveō, voveō, circumspiciō, tendō, intendō

   Antonyms: āversor, abhorreō, dēclīnō

   Quaerendo invenietis ― By seeking ye shall find

   Quaerite Dominum ― Seek ye the Lord

2. to ask, question, seek or search for a thing, inquire, query, interrogate [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: scīscitor, percontor, investīgō, scīscō, indāgō, interrogō, requīrō, rogitō, scrūtor

   Quaeritur num mors malum sit. ― The question is whether death is an evil.

3. to strive for; endeavor; seek to obtain [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: lūctor, certō, ēlabōrō, cōnītor, cōnor, ēnītor, appetō, affectō, tendō, quaesō, temptō, studeō, circumspiciō, īnsequor, contendō, adnītor, labōrō, pugnō, molior, perīclitor, nītor, spectō

4. to miss, lack
5. to desire, require, want, aim at [ synonyms ▲]

   Synonyms: requīrō, affectō, cupiō, aveō, studeō, concupiō, indigeō, sitiō, petō, expetō, spectō, voveō, appetō, dēstinō