quæstuary, a. and n.
(ˈkwiːstjuːərɪ)
Also 7 quest-.
[ad. L. quæstuāri-us, f. quæstus gain: see -ary. Cf. obs. F. questuaire (Godef.).]
A. adj. Connected or concerned with gain; money-making.
| 1594 R. Ashley tr. Loys le Roy 125 If they be poore, they applie themselues to questuarie, or gainfull arts; whereby to haue meanes to liue. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 137 Although lapidaries, and questuary enquirers affirme it, yet the Writers of Mineralls..are of another beliefe. 1694 R. L'Estrange Fables 454 The Lawyers, the Divines, and all quæstuary professions. a 1864 Ferrier Grk. Philos. (1866) I. xii. 352 This..may be termed the quæstuary class,..this being the end which they aim at. |
† B. n. One who seeks for gain; spec. = questor n. 1. Obs.
| 1614 Bp. Hall No Peace with Rome §12 Not giuen by the popes, but lewdly deuised by some of his base questuaries for an aduantage. 1664 Jer. Taylor Dissuas. Popery ii. §3 Gerson and Dominicus à Soto are asham'd of these prodigious indulgences, and suppose that the Pope's Quæstuaries onely did procure them. |