quêter

Quêter is a French verb with two main senses: to search for or seek something, and to solicit or beg for contributions, especially in a religious or charitable context. In everyday language, quêter can also mean to inquire or look for information, though this sense is less common today and often replaced by chercher or enquêter.

Etymology and sense development: quêter derives from the noun quête, meaning a search or collection, which in turn comes from Old French and ultimately from Latin quaerere, “to seek.” The religious sense—going door to door to ask for alms or donations—dates from the medieval and early modern periods and remains the prototypical usage in many Francophone regions.

Usage and nuance: In a religious setting, quêter describes the act of collecting funds during a service or event, expressed as faire la quête. In secular contexts, quêter can mean to seek information or to pursue a goal, but speakers often prefer chercher, rechercher, or enquêter for precision. Quêter as “to beg or solicit” carries a formal or historical tone; in contemporary speech it is more likely to refer to organized collections or to the act of seeking something rather than casual begging.

Conjugation and form: Quêter is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms include je quête, tu questes, il quête, nous questons, vous questez, ils questent. The past participle is quêté; passé composé is j’ai quêté. Other tenses follow the standard -er verb patterns.

See also:

- quête (noun): a search or a collection/donation drive

- quêteur/questeuse: person who quètes

- faire la quête: to collect alms or donations

Notes: In modern usage, quêter is often replaced by chercher, solliciter, or enquêter depending on context.