quaerimus

Quaerimus is a Latin verb form meaning “we seek” or “we inquire.” It is the first-person plural present indicative active of the verb quaero, quaere, quaesivi, quaesitus. Quaero is a third-conjugation verb in its standard forms, with the present indicative endings including -o, -is, -it, -imus, -itis, -unt; thus quaerimus literally translates as “we seek” or “we inquire” in the present tense.

Etymology and form: The stem quaer- carries the sense of seeking or asking, and the present tense endings mark person and number. The infinitive of the verb is quaerere, and other principal parts include quaero (1st person singular present), quaeris (2nd person singular), and quaerit (3rd person singular). As a regular member of the Latin verb system, quaerimus follows standard patterns of subject-verb agreement in classical Latin.

Usage: Quaerimus appears in classical and medieval Latin texts as a straightforward statement of ongoing inquiry by the speaker or a group including the speaker. It is commonly translated as “we seek” or “we inquire.” Examples include phrases like Quaerimus veritatem (We seek the truth) or Quaerimus causas huius rei (We inquire into the causes of this matter). The form is primarily grammatical and paralleled by other person-number combinations, such as quaeris (you seek) or quaerunt (they seek).

Significance: As a basic present-tense form, quaerimus exemplifies the Latin verb quaero’s core meaning and its role in expressing active, collective inquiry. Beyond its literary use, the phrase can appear in mottos or scholarly titles that emphasize pursuit of knowledge or truth.