1. Roman law. A magistrate, subordinate to the consuls or provincial governors, who maintained and administered the public money, performing tasks such as making necessary payments, receiving revenues, keeping accurate accounts, registering debts and fines, supervising the accommodation of foreign ambassadors, and financing the burials and monuments of distinguished citizens.
2. Hist. An agent of the Pope who carried quaesita from door to door.
— Also termed quaesitor; quaestionarius. See QUAESTA. Pl. quaestores. — quaestorial, adj. — quaestorship, n.
“The office of quaestor goes back at least to the beginning of the Republic. Each year two quaestors were nominated by the consuls, later elected by the comitia tributa, to assist the consuls in matters of finance. This continued to be their principal concern, but they enlarged their functions as their numbers increased.” R.W. Lee, The Elements of Roman Law 15 (4th ed. 1956).
