I.gen. quaesti, Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 5; id. Poen. prol. 95; Ter. Hec. 5, 3, 38; Titin., Nov., Turp., and Caecil. ap. Non. 483, 19 sq.; Varr. ib. 492, 20.— Gen. quaestuis, Varr. ap. Non. 483, 32), m. quaero, a gaining, acquiring; gain, acquisition, profit, advantage (quite class.; syn.: lucrum, emolimentum).
I. Lit.: “quaestus pecuniae,” Caes. B. G. 6, 17, 1: “emendi aut vendendi quaestu et lucro duci,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 3, 9: “pauperes homines, quibus nec quaestus est, nec, etc.,” Plaut. Rud. 2, 1, 2: “ad suom quemque hominem quaestum esse aequomst callidum,” id. As. 1, 3, 34: “quaestus ac lucrum unius agri, et unius anni,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 44, § 106: “cum quaestu compendioque dimittere,” id. ib. 2, 2, 3, § “6: quibus fides, decus, pietas, postremo honesta atque inhonesta omnia quaestui sunt,” are venal, are turned to gain, Sall. J. 31, 12: “quaestui deditum esse,” id. C. 13, 5: “quaestui servire,” Cels. 3, 4: “ad suom quaestum callere,” Plaut. Truc. 2, 5, 40: “in quaestu esse,” to bring gain, be turned to profit, Quint. 1, prooem. § 13: quaestui habere rem publicam, to derive advantage, enrich one's self, by the administration of public affairs, Cic. Off. 2, 22, 77: “pecuniam in quaestu relinquere,” to let out money at interest, on usury, id. Pis. 35, 86.— “Prov.: non potest quaestus consistere, si eum sumptus superat,” Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 74; cf.: “is (sumptibus suis) vel Herculi conterere quaestum possiet,” i. e. he could spend all the tithes offered to Hercules, id. Most. 4, 2, 68: “omnes homines ad suom quaestum callent et fastidiunt,” every one looks to his own interest, id. Truc. 2, 5, 40; cf. id. ib. 2, 4, 62.—
B. Transf., a way of making money, a business, occupation, employment, trade: “meretricius,” Cic. Phil. 2, 18, 44.— Plur.: “meretricii quaestus,” Sen. Contr. 1, 2, 4: “de quaestibus, qui liberales habendi,” Cic. Off. 1, 42, 150; Plaut. Rud. 4, 3, 50: “malus,” id. Most. 3, 2, 92.— “Of a prostitute (freq. and class.): corpore indignum quaestum facere,” Plaut. Poen. 5, 3, 21; Liv. 26, 33, 8; Tac. A. 2, 85; Val. Max. 6, 1, 6: “quaestum corpore factitare,” id. 6, 1, 10; so without corpore: “uti quaestum faceret,” Ter. Heaut. 4, 1, 27: “quaestum occipit,” id. And. 1, 1, 52; id. Ad. 2, 1, 52; Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 30.—Of a parasite: “antiquom quaestum meum alimoniae servo,” Plaut. Pers. 1, 2, 1. —
II. Trop., gain, profit, advantage: qui sui quaestus causā fictas suscitant sententias, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 40, 88 (Trag. v. 447 Vahl.): “ut quaestui habeant male loqui melioribus,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 3, 12: “nullum in eo facio quaestum,” Cic. Fam. 15, 14, 1: “est autem quaestus magnus pietas,” Vulg. 1 Tim. 6, 6.
