An Inquisition


Here is a little table of words that clearly have an etymological relationship. The puzzle is to explain the function of the the quis root and how it combines with the prefixes to form the words, whose meanings, in turn, must have evolved somewhat over time.

acquisitionacquireacquest acquisitive
  bequest  
 conquerconquest  
disquisition   disquisitive
   exquisite 
inquisitioninquireinquest inquisitive
   perquisite    
question quest  
requisitionrequirerequestrequisite 
sequestration sequester,sequestrate  

And why don't equestrian, esquire, quire and squire belong?


Last modified on 11 May 2020.