I.v. dep. a. [scisco], to inform one's self; to ask, inquire, question, examine, interrogate, etc. (class.; syn.: percontor, interrogo); constr. regularly, ex (ab) aliquo aliquid, de aliquā re, with a rel.clause or absol.; also (post-Aug.) with aliquem quid.
(α).
With acc. rei: “Epicuri ex Velleio sciscitabar sententiam,” Cic. N. D. 1, 7, 17: “sententiam ex aliquo (with requirere),” id. de Or. 1, 23, 105: “id sciscitari,” id. Or. 16, 52: “consulis voluntatem,” Liv. 7, 26. consilium ejus, Tac. H. 2, 33: “imperia ducum sciscitando,” id. ib. 1, 84: “diversa,” id. ib. 2, 34: “mores naturasque hominum,” Gell. 1, 9, 2.—
(β).
With de: “de victoriă sciscitantes,” Cic. Div. 1, 34, 76: “de unoquoque nostrum sciscitantur omnes,” id. Phil. 14, 7, 19: “de Domitio, ut facis, sciscitare, ubi sit,” id. Att. 9, 15, 4.—
(γ).
With an indirect question: “lubet prius sciscitari quid sit,” Ter. Eun. 3, 4, 10; Liv. 1, 9; 1, 54; 1, 56; 2, 12 al.; Suet. Claud. 10; id. Ner. 48; id. Vit. 17 al.: “ab utroque sciscitor, cur, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 1, 9, 21.—
(δ).
Absol.: “elicuit comiter sciscitando, ut fateretur, etc.,” Liv. 6, 34; cf. id. 1, 5; Quint. 9, 2, 7: “si de vetere jure discendum esset, issem plane sciscitatum ad istos,” Gell. 12, 13, 3.—（ε) Aliquem: “sciscitatum deos descendunt,” Liv. 45, 27: “ut mane singulos, anne jentassent, sciscitaretur,” Suet. Vit. 7; so id. Calig. 28; id. Dom. 15.
a. Act. collat. form: “paucula etiam sciscitare prius volo,” Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 52. —
