ˌkyu̇rēˈäsəd.ē, -ür-, -s(ə)tē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English curiosite, from Middle French curiosité, from Latin curiositat-, curiositas, from curiosus + -itat-, -itas- -ity
1. : desire to know:
a. archaic : a blamable tendency or desire to inquire into or seek knowledge (as of sacred matters) or to inquire too minutely into any subject
b. : nosiness : inquisitiveness about others' concerns
to escape the curiosity of prying neighbors
c. : desire to investigate : interest leading to inquiry
intellectual curiosity
his own curiosity to know what really happened long ago — G.M.Trevelyan
d. archaic : scientific or artistic interest : desire to evaluate and appreciate
2. archaic
a. : careful workmanship : accuracy or perfection in construction
b. : undue nicety, subtlety, or fastidiousness
c. : proficiency acquired by careful practice : ingenuity
3.
a. obsolete : a matter (as a question, argument, theory, or experiment) that is curious and ingenious
b. : one that arouses curiosity : one that arouses attention or awakes interest especially for strange, uncommon, or exotic characteristics
an architectural curiosity
his uncommon illness was a medical curiosity
exploiting the poet as a curiosity
c. : an unusual knickknack (as a travel souvenir)
d. : ability to arouse curiosity especially through novelty : interest , piquancy
the curiosity of the operation
e. : curious trait or aspect
another curiosity observable in these verbs with separable suffixes — Charlton Laird