quaestor

American  

[kwes-ter, kwee-ster] / ˈkwɛs tər, ˈkwi stər /

Or questor

noun

Roman History.

1. one of two subordinates of the consuls serving as public prosecutors in certain criminal cases.

2. (later) one of the public magistrates in charge of the state funds, as treasury officers or those attached to the consuls and provincial governors.

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quaestor British  

/ ˈkwɛstə, -tɔː, ˈkwiːstə, kwɛˈstɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. any of several magistrates of ancient Rome, usually a financial administrator

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Other Word Forms

• quaestorial adjective
• quaestorship noun

Etymology

Origin of quaestor

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English questor, from Latin quaestor, equivalent to quaes-, base of quaerere “to seek” + -tor noun suffix; -tor

Example Sentences

When he returned from his first political posting, as quaestor in Sicily, for instance, he imagined his fame would have spread far and wide.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Quintus Cassius Longinus, the brother or cousin of the murderer of Caesar, quaestor of Pompey in Further Spain in 54 b.c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 4 "Carnegie Andrew" to "Casus Belli" by Various

Lucius Lucullus, Sulla’s quaestor, appeared in the Aegean with a fleet that he had gathered among Rome’s allies in the East.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly

Bocchus again made overtures to the Romans, and after an interview with Sulla, who was Marius’s quaestor at that time, sent ambassadors to Rome.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various

His son, Gaius Flaminius, was quaestor under P. Scipio Africanus the elder in Spain in 210, and took part in the capture of New Carthage.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various

Related Words

• officer