[a. OF. quester (F. quêter), f. queste QUEST sb.1]
1. intr. Of hunting dogs, etc.: To search for game. Also with about.
c. 1350. Ipomadon (Kölbing), 619. A brachet of thee beste, That euer wold trewly queste And securly pursewe.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 49. Þay questede and quellys By frythis and fellis.
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurell, 1409. The howndes began to yerne and to quest.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 133. Such [Dogs] as delight on the land, play their parts, either by swiftness of foot, or by often questing, to search out and to spring the bird.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 88. If they prosper they share, and give the Jackal some small Snip for his Pains in questing.
1826. Scott, Woodst., xxxi. Bevis, questing about, found the body.
fig. 1590. Southwell, M. Magd. Funerall Teares, 113. Why doth thy sorrow quest so much upon the place where he is?
1668. Dryden, Even.’s Love, II. i. Cast about quickly,… Range, quest, and spring a lie immediately.
b. Of animals: To search about for food.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 137. It would be natural for them [the whales] to quest about for that jelly they live upon.
1879. Jefferies, Amateur Poacher, xii. 236. There was the pheasant not fifteen yards away, quietly questing about.
2. Of hunting dogs: To break out into a peculiar bark at the sight of game; to give tongue; to bark or yelp. Obs. exc. dial.
c. 1420. in Rel. Ant., II. 7. Kenettes questede to quelle, Al so breme so any belle.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IX. xxi. This lytel brachet … lepte vpon hym and … whyned and quested.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., in Holinshed, VI. 41. The hunter may perceive the beast resting on the one banke, the dogs questing on the other brim.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 681. You shall then take care, that not at any time,… he dare to quest or open his mouth, but that he hunt so silent and mute as is possible.
1681. Otway, Soldier’s Fort., IV. (1735), 84. Lie still, you knave, close, close,… you had best quest, and spoil the Sport, you had.
1831. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), II. xiv. 327–8. Is it not strange—just before the coursing season began, he [a dog] began to dream of going out and quested in his sleep?
1888. in Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk.
† b. transf. Of frogs: To croak. Obs. rare–1.
1607. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 725. I mean the little Frog questing hoarse voyce amain.
3. Of persons: To go about in search of something; to search or seek. Also with about, and constr. after, for. (Chiefly transf. from sense 1.)
1624. Heywood, Captives, I. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. 111. This too yeares I have quested to his howse.
1686. F. Spence, trans. Varillas’ Ho. Medicis, 281. This young Lord had won the prize of a Turnament, and lay questing after a panegyrick.
1701. Collier, M. Aurel. (1726), 89. They went questing with flambeaux.
1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, I. v. 91. One of the bridal pairs … was seen questing about as if disposed to invade our premises.
1882. Stevenson, Mem. & Portraits, xvi. (1887), 288. Neither Mr. James nor the author … has ever gone questing after gold.
b. R. C. Ch. To ask for alms or donations.
1748. Earthquake of Peru, iii. 303. If the Friars go into the Country, a questing for their Monastery.
1867. R. Palmer, Life Philip Howard, 104. There were not to be more than thirteen religious, who were never to quest or beg alms.
4. trans. a. To search for, pursue, seek out.
1751. Byrom, Enthusiasm, in Poems, 1773, II. 34. Averse to Heav’n,… They quest Annihilation’s monstrous Theme.
1842. Miss Mitford, in Friendsh. Miss Mitford (1882), II. v. 77. Flush found a hare, and quested it for two miles.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 164. In noontide heats Quest out a shady dell.
1882. Sir E. Arnold, Pearls of Faith, xxviii. (1883), 99. A wild bee questing honey-buds.
b. To question, request, demand. rare.
1897. F. Thompson, New Poems, 35. [I] quested its secret of the sun.
