(v. a.P. a.adv.) : ex-quīro (in Plautus also exquaero, Bacch. 4, 4, 70 al.), sīvi, sītum, 3, v. a.
* To search out diligently, to seek for; to make inquiry, to inquire, to ask (syn.: requiro, inquiro, investigo, perscrutor; freq. and class.): cum ex te causas divinationis exquirerem,Cic. Div. 2, 20, 46: a te nihildum certi exquiro,id. Att. 7, 12, 4; cf.: sed haec non nimis exquiro a Graecis, to ask of, expect from, id. ib. 7, 18, 3: ancillas dedo, quolibet cruciatu exquire,Ter. Hec. 5, 2, 7: exquisiturum se vel fidiculis de Caesonia sua, cur, etc.,that he would search out even by the rack,Suet. Calig. 33: idem ego dicam, si me exquiret miles,Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 91: secum et cum aliis, quid in eo peccatum sit, exquirunt,Cic. Off. 1, 41, 147: omissis auctoritatibus ipsa re ac ratione exquirere veritatem,id. de Imp. Pomp. 17, 51: sententias,Caes. B. G. 3, 3, 1: locum,Verg. G. 2, 266: sceleratum frigus,to find out,id. ib. 2, 256: verum,to search into, investigate,Cic. Div. 2, 12, 28; id. Off. 1, 36, 132: facta alicujus ad antiquae religionis rationem,Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 5, § 10; cf.: verba exquisita ad sonum,id. Or. 49, 163: rationes agitare et exquirere,id. Tusc. 5, 23, 66: itinere exquisito per Divitiacum,having ascertained the route,Caes. B. G. 1, 41, 4 et saep.: exquire de Blesamio, numquid ad regem contra dignitatem tuam scripserit,inquire respecting Blesamius,Cic. Deiot. 15, 42; cf.: de Varrone tam diligenter,id. Att. 13, 22, 1: eis senatus arbitratur singularis exquirendos honores,to devise, invent,id. Phil. 4, 2, 5.—Pass. impers.: istuc mihi exquisitum est, fuisse hunc, etc.,I am accurately informed,Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 105: mi istuc primum exquisito est opus,I must first inquire respecting this,id. Am. 2, 2, 159; cf. id. ib. 2, 1, 81; A. and S. Gr. § 243, R. 1: consilia exquirentes,Cic. Fat. 1.—Hence, ex-quīsītus, a, um, P. a., carefully sought out, ripely considered, choice, excellent, exquisite: ipsi omnia, quorum negotium est, consulta ad nos et exquisita deferunt,Cic. de Or. 1, 58, 250: reconditae exquisitaeque sententiae,id. Brut. 79, 274: exquisitum judicium litterarum,id. Off. 1, 37, 133: exquisitis rationibus confirmare,id. Fin. 1, 9, 30: summis ingeniis exquisitaque doctrina philosophi,id. ib. 1, 1, 1: ars,id. de Or. 2, 41, 175: supplicia,id. Off. 3, 27, 100: magistri,id. Brut. 27, 104: munditia non odiosa neque exquisita nimis,too exquisite,id. Off. 1, 36, 130: nihil elegans, nihil exquisitum,id. Pis. 27, 67: epulae,Plin. 9, 35, 58, § 119. —Comp.: accuratius et exquisitius dicendi genus,id. Brut. 82, 283: verba,Quint. 11, 1, 33.—Sup.: laudantur exquisitissimis verbis legiones,Cic. Phil. 4, 3, 6: ad exquisitissimam consuetudinem Graecorum aliquem erudire,id. Rep. 2, 21: scientia exquisitissimae subtilitatis,Plin. 6, 33, 39, § 211.
* Sought out, ascertained, made certain: satin istuc mihi exquisitumst?Plaut. Capt. 3, 4, 105.—Hence, adv.: exquīsīte, carefully, accurately, particularly, excellently, exquisitely: cum de eo crimine accurate et exquisite disputavisset,Cic. Brut. 80, 277: eleganter atque exquisite dicere aliquid,Quint. 8, 2, 21.—Comp., Cic. Brut. 93, 322; id. Tusc. 1, 48, 116; Quint. 12, 10, 75.—Sup., Tiro Tull. ap. Gell. 10, 1, 7; Gell. 13, 7, 6.

s. TLL