(verb) : ve-stīgo, no
* Perf. and sup., āre, 1, etym. dub.; perh. Sanscr. vahis (bahis), out, and stigh-, to climb; cf. Gr. στίχος, a row, etc.; Angl. -Sax. stīgan; Germ. steigen, to climb.
* Prop., to follow in the track of; to track, trace out (cf.: rimor, indago, scrutor): germana soror, errare videbar, Tardaque vestigare et quaerere te, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 20, 40 (Ann. v. 43 Vahl.): feras vestigat (sc. canis),Sen. Thyest. 496.—With abl.: fertur (sc. tigris) praeceps, odore vestigans (sc. raptorem),Plin. 8, 18, 25, § 66.
* Transf.
* To find out by tracing, to trace out, discover.
* Trop.
* To search after; to seek out: ceterum Alexander, quam regionem Dareus petisset, omni curā vestigans, tamen explorare non poterat,Curt. 4, 6, 5: adeo sicca lacuna, ut vestigantium sitim falleret,id. 4, 16, 14: equum vestigari jubet,id. 6, 5, 19: ergo alte vestiga (sc. ramum) oculis, riteque repertum Carpe manu,Verg. A. 6, 145.
* To inquire into, investigate (class.).
* In simple constr.: causas rerum,Cic. de Or. 2, 39, 166.
* To discover, find out: grave imperium regum nihil inexploratum, quod vestigari volunt, efficit,Liv. 39, 51, 6.
* With cum: quod cum desidiosā delectatione vestiges,Cic. de Or. 3, 23, 88.