v. Obs. rare. [f. L. vestīgāt-, ppl. stem of vestīgāre to track, trace out, investigate.] intr. and trans. To investigate, in various senses.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey, etc. (1825), II. 4.
| Wherefore Dame Reason did me persuade, and move | |
| To be content with my small estate, | |
| And in this matter no more to vestigate. |
1623. Cockeram, I. Vestigate, to tracke, or trace.
1656. Blount, Glossogr. (following Cooper), Vestigate, to seek out, to seek by the print of the foot, to trace, to search, diligently, to hunt after.
1780. J. T. Dillon, Trav. Spain (1781), 28. To vestigate their mode of propagation.
Hence † Vestigating (vbl.) sb., a footprint. (Cf. VESTIGIATING.) † Vestigation (see quot. and INVESTIGATION). Obs. rare.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 189. [The Cingalese hold] that Adam was their Created and liued there; they beleeue it rather in regard his vestigatings are yet imprinted in the earth.
1658. Phillips, Vestigation, a seeking any one by the print of their foot, a searching diligently.
