Lewis & Short

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quaestus, ūs (archaic 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).

  1. 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.
    1. 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.
  2. 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.