Also 5–6 -yon, (5 -one). [a. OF. questionner (13th c.), f. question QUESTION sb.]
1. trans. To ask a question or questions of (a person or fig. a thing); to interrogate. † Also with double object (quot. 1604).
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xv. 58. Fame … sette herself … with the porters and mynystres for to questyone theym.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. iv. 64. One of you question yon’d man, If he for gold will giue vs any foode. Ibid. (1604), Oth., I. iii. 129. Her Father … Still question’d me the Storie of my life.
1714. Swift, Imit. Hor., II. vi. And question me of this and that.
1814. Cary, Dante, Paradise, III. 133. I to question her became less prompt.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, Introd. The night-student, who had been questioning the stars or the sages … for that hidden knowledge.
b. To examine judicially; hence, to call to account, challenge, accuse (of). Now rare.
1637. Heylin, Answ. Burton, 60. When you were questioned publickely for your misdemeanours.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 240. Socrates was questioned and condemned at Athens.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., ii. 96. He had rather his own Church should be questioned of Idolatry.
1789. Constitution U. S., Art. i. § 6. For any Speech or Debate in either House, they [members of Congress] shall not be questioned in any other Place.
1839. Macaulay, Ess. (1843), II. 458. [He] cannot be questioned before any tribunal for his baseness and ingratitude.
† c. To challenge, defy (one) to do something. Obs. rare–1.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 27. I cannot see why the Angel of God should question Esdras to recall the time past, if it were beyond his owne power.
† 2. intr. To question with: To ask questions of; to hold discourse or conversation with; to dispute with. Obs.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. iv. These two knyghtes mette with syre Tristram and questyoned with hym.
1555. Eden, Decades, 10. I questioned with hym as concernynge the eleuation of the pole.
1614. Jackson, Creed, III. i. § 5. Little would it boote vs to question with them about their meaning.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 97. Nay, I was not far from murmuring and questioning with my God, on his putting to such tortures the most guiltless of his creatures.
3. intr. To ask or put questions.
1584. Lyly, Campaspe, V. ii. Thy sighs when he questioned, may breed in him a jealousy.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. ii. 122. Goe wee … to the man that tooke him To question of his apprehension.
1626. D’Ewes, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 217. Others hearing not well what hee saied hindred those by questioning which might have heard.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXIII. 110. I scarce uplift my eyes, Nor dare to question.
1858. Longf., M. Standish, IX. 53. Questioning, answering,… and each interrupting the other.
b. trans. with clause stating the question. ? Obs.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 237. I … was so bould as to question what they were, and of their businesse.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 433. ’Tis safer to Auoid what’s growne, then question how ’tis borne.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxi. 110. They never questioned what crime he had done.
† c. intr. To inquire or seek after. Obs. rare–1.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist Ivstine, XXXI. 105. Which flattery of the Romaines so much delighted him, that them which before his affection hated, now his desire earnestly questioned after.
4. trans. To make a question of, to raise the question (whether, if, etc.); hence, to doubt, hold as uncertain.
1533. Frith, Answ. More, Wks. (1573), 33. Whether it be so or not it may be questioned.
1659. Slingsby, Diary (1836), 356. I sent you a leter … but I question whether you received it.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 286. I much question if those who left them had once fired them.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 4, ¶ 9. No man can question whether wounds and sickness are not really painful.
1883. Law Times, 20 Oct., 408/1. Whether the request … can be complied with … may be questioned.
b. In negative expressions, as I do not question (but, etc.) = I have no doubt, I am sure (that); also pass. (cf. 5) it cannot be questioned = it is certain; etc.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. iv. 50. It is not to be question’d, That they had gather’d a wise Councell.
1687. T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. 1730, I. 82. I … question not but you’ll do me and these two martyrs justice.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. Pref. 23. Some cases which I did not question to be true.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVIII. ii. He did not in the least question succeeding with his daughter.
1869. Huxley, in Sci. Opin., 21 April, 464/3. Nor can it be questioned that [etc.].
1878. Simpson, Sch. Shaks., I. 120. He did not question but the native Irish would join him.
6. a. To call in question, dispute, oppose.
1632. Galway Arch., 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 478. Wee question the truth of your informacion.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lix. (1739), 112. This the wilful Archbishop never questioned, till he questioned all Authority.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxvii. III. 3. The worthless delegates of his power, whose merit it was made sacrilege to question.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, vii. 96. There would be no true humility in questioning your decision.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. i. 164. Any one who openly questioned the truth of Christianity was treated as a public offender.
† b. To bring into question, make doubtful or insecure. Obs. rare.
1637. Heywood, Royall King, III. Wks. 1874, VI. 43. This emulation Begets our hate, and questions him of life.
a. 1643. Suckling, Goblins, V. (1646), 58. Behold (grave Lords) the man Whose death questioned the life of these.
† c. To state as a question. Obs. rare–1.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 21. Myself could shew a Catalogue of doubts, never yet imagined nor questioned.
† 6. To ask or inquire about, to investigate (a thing). Obs. rare.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 142. Dispatch vs with all speed, least that our King Come here himselfe to question our delay.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 133. When they Question such things, as the Holy-ghost is silent in.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. (1701), 87/1. Socrates asked them if … he might be permitted to question what he understood not.
