I.inf. percontarier, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 78; id. As. 2, 2, 76; id. Cas. 3, 3, 8; id. Most. 4, 2, 47 al.), v. dep. a. and n. per and root cunc-; Sanscr. canc- (canka, hesitation); cf. ὄκνος for κόκνος, to ask particularly, to question strictly, to inquire, interrogate, investigate (class.; syn.: interrogo, sciscitor).—Constr.: aliquem de aliquā re, aliquem and interrog.clause, aliquem alone; also, aliquid ab (rarely ex) aliquo and absol.; also aliquem aliquid: “cocum percontabatur, possent, etc.,” Plaut. Capt. 4, 4, 9: “percontari hanc paucis hic volt,” id. Pers. 4, 4, 49: “percontarier, utrum, etc.,” id. Bacch. 4, 1, 4: “me infit percontarier, ecquem noverim Demaenetum,” id. As. 2, 2, 76: “dum percontor portitores, ecquae navis venerit,” id. Stich. 2, 2, 42: “percontare te perpetuisne malis voluptatibus perfruens ... degere aetatem,” Cic. Fin. 2, 35, 118: singulos percontari, cum quā sit aliqui deprensus, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 7, 2: “Porum percontatur an verum esset,” Curt. 9, 2, 5: “spadonem ... num quid velit dicere,” id. 5, 11, 4: “Caesarem an, etc.,” Tac. A. 12, 5; 4, 17; id. H. 4, 82; Just. 11, 7, 6: “nutricem, quid hoc rei sit,” Liv. 3, 48, 4: “tu numquam mihi percontanti aut quaerenti aliquid defuisti,” Cic. de Or. 1, 21, 97; 2, 71: “percontando atque interrogando elicere alicujus opinionem,” Cic. Fin. 2, 1, 2: “percontari ab aliquo,” id. Ac. 1, 1, 2: “ab adversariis percontabitur, quid, etc.,” Auct. Her. 2, 15, 22; Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 1: “ab eo percontaretur,” Curt. 6, 7, 27: “cum percontaretur ex aniculā quādam, quanti aliquid venderet,” Cic. Brut. 46, 72; cf. id. Div. 2, 36, 76: “ex his scribis percontamini quid velint, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 79, § 183: “aliquem ex aliquo,” to ask a person respecting another, Plaut. As. 2, 4, 95: “aliquem de aliquā re,” Cic. Rep. 6, 9, 9: “peritos de ascensu Haemi,” Liv. 40, 21, 3: “pauca percunctatus de statu civitatis,” Sall. C. 40, 2: “aliquem aliquid,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 5, 47; id. Aul. 2, 2, 33; Liv. 39, 12, 1: quae percunctare eum magistratus vellent, id. 39, 49, 12; Tac. A. 15, 60; Curt. 5, 11, 8: “meum si quis te percontabitur aevum,” Hor. Ep. 1, 20, 26.—
II. To find out by inquiry, App. M. p. 113, 8.