The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Spere \Spere\, v. i. [AS. spyrian to inquire, properly, to
   follow the track; akin to D. speuren, G. sp["u]ren, Icel.
   spyrja. [root]171. See Spoor.]
   To search; to pry; to ask; to inquire. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
   [Written also speer, speir.] --Jamieson.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Speir \Speir\, v. i.
   To ask. See Spere. --Sir W. Scott.
   [1913 Webster]