Emily Dickinson Lexicon

QUES-TION, n. [ques'chun; Fr. and Sp. question; L. quæstio. See Quest.]

1. The act of asking; an interrogatory; as, to examine by question and answer.
2. That which is asked; something proposed which is to be solved by answer. What is the question?
3. Inquiry; disquisition; discussion. It is to be put to question, whether it is lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war, simply for the propagation of the faith. Bacon.
4. Dispute or subject of debate. There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. John iii.
5. Doubt; controversy; dispute. The story is true beyond all question. This does not bring their truth in question. Locke.
6. Trial; examination; judicial trial or inquiry. Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. Acts xxiii. xxiv.
7. Examination by torture. Blackstone. Aylife.
8. Endeavor; effort; act of seeking. [Not in use.] Shak.
9. In logic, a proposition stated by way of interrogation. In question, in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question.

QUES'TION, v.i.

1. To ask a question or questions; to inquire by interrogatory or proposition to be answered. He that questioneth much, shall learn much. Bacon.
2. To debate by interrogatories. Shak.

QUES'TION, v.t.

1. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness.
2. To doubt of; to be uncertain of. And most we question what we most desire. Prior.
3. To have no confidence in; to treat as doubtful. If a man is frustrated in his designs, his prudence is questioned.

QUES'TION-A-BLE, a.

1. That may be questioned; doubtful; uncertain; disputable. The deed is of questionable authority. It is questionable whether Galen ever saw the dissection of a human body. Baker.
2. Suspicious; liable to be doubted or disputed; liable to suspicion. His veracity is questionable. Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, That I will speak to thee. Shak.

QUES'TION-A-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality or state of being doubtful, questionable or suspicious.

QUES'TION-A-BLY, adv.

Doubtfully.

QUES'TION-A-RY, a.

Inquiring; asking questions; as, questionary epistles. Pope.

QUES'TION-ED, pp.

1. Interrogated; examined by questions.
2. Doubted; disputed.

QUES'TION-ER, n.

One that asks questions; an inquirer.

QUES'TION-ING, ppr.

Interrogating; calling in question; doubting.

QUES'TION-IST, n.

A questioner; an inquirer. Hall.

QUES'TION-LESS, adv.

Beyond a question or doubt; doubtless; certainly. Ralegh. South.

QUEST'MAN, or QUEST'MON-GER, n.

A starter of lawsuits or prosecutions. [Not used.] Bacon.

QUES'TOR, n. [L. quæstor. See Quest and Query.]

In Roman antiquity, an officer who had the management of the public treasure; the receiver of taxes, tribute, &c.

QUES'TOR-SHIP, n.

1. The office of a questor or Roman treasurer.
2. The term of a questor's office.

QUES'TRIST, n.

A seeker; a pursuer. [Not in use.] Shak.

QUES'TU-A-RY, a.

Studious of profit. Brown.

QUES'TU-A-RY, n.

One employed to collect profits. Taylor.

QUEUE, n. [See CUE.]

QUIB, n. [W. cwip, a flirt, a quirk, or gwib, a quick course or turn; cwipiaw, to move quickly, to whip; as we say, he whipped round the corner.]

A sarcasm; a bitter taunt; a quip; a gibe.

QUIB'BLE, n. [it seems to be from the root of quib, supra, W. cwipiaw, to turn or move rapidly, or gwibiaw, to wander. See Wabble.]

1. A start or turn from the point in question, or from plain truth; an evasion; a cavil; a pretense; as, to answer a sound argument by quibbles. Quirks and quibbles have no place in the search after truth. Watts.
2. A pun; a low conceit. Addison.

QUIB'BLE, v.i.

1. To evade the point in question, or plain truth, by artifice, play upon words, caviling or any conceit; to trifle in argument or discourse. L'Estrange.
2. To pun.

QUIB'BLER, n.

1. One who evades plain truth by trifling artifices, play upon words, or cavils.
2. A punster.

QUIB'BLING, ppr.

Evading the truth by artifice or play upon words; punning.

QUIB'BLING-LY, adv.

Triflingly; evasively.