a. and sb. Also 7 quest-. [ad. L. questuāri-us, f. quæstus gain: see -ARY. Cf. obs. F. questuaire (Godef.).]

1

  A.  adj. Connected or concerned with gain; money-making.

2

1594.  R. Ashley, trans. Loys le Roy, 125. If they be poore, they applie themselues to questuarie, or gainfull arts; whereby to haue meanes to liue.

3

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 137. Although lapidaries, and questuary enquirers affirme it, yet the Writers of Mineralls … are of another beliefe.

4

1694.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, 454. The Lawyers, the Divines, and all quæstuary professions.

5

a. 1864.  Ferrier, Grk. Philos. (1866), I. xii. 352. This … may be termed the quæstuary class,… this being the end which they aim at.

6

  † B.  sb. One who seeks for gain; spec. = QUESTOR sb. 1. Obs.

7

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.

8

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.

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