Lexical Definition

‎ζήτησις‎ zḗtēsis (dzay'-tay-sis) controversy ^G:N-F
from ‎ζητέω‎

question.

• a searching (properly, the act), i.e. a dispute or its theme

Abbott-Smith

* ζήτησις, -εως, ἡ (< ζητέω).
1. a seeking, search.
2. a questioning, inquiry, debate: Ac 15:2, 7, II Ti 2:23, Tit 3:9; seq. περί, Jo 3:25, Ac 25:20, I Ti 6:4.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ζήτησις-ησις, εως, ἡ,

seeking, search for, κατ᾽ Εὐρώπης ζήτησιςησιν ἐκπλῶσαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ βίου τε καὶ γῆς ζ. [Refs]; ἀνδρὸς κατὰ ζήτησιςησιν in quest of him, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 searching, examining, ζήτησιςησιν ἐποιέετο τῶν νεῶν searched the ships, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 inquiry, investigation, especially of a philosophic nature, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ζ. τοῦ μέλλοντος διὰ ὀρνίθων ποιεῖσθαι inquire into the future by augury, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__4 judicial inquiry, [Refs 4th c.BC+], etc.: plural, suits, controversies, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]