Emily Dickinson Lexicon

QUEST, n. [Fr. quête, for queste; L. quæro, quæstus. As the letter r is rarely changed into s, perhaps the L. quæsivi, quæstus, may be from the root of quæso, W. ceisiaw, to seek, to endeavor, cais, effort. See Class Gs, No. 35.]

1. The act of seeking; search; as, to rove in quest of game; to go in quest of a lost child; in quest of property, &c. – Milton. Addison.
2. Inquest; a jury. [Not used.] – Shak.
3. Searchers, collectively. [Not used.] – Shak.
4. Inquiry; examination. [Not used.] – Shak.
5. Request; desire; solicitation. Gad not abroad, at every quest and call Of an untrain'd hope or passion. – Herbert.