curiosity
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, from cūriōsus.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
curiosity (plural curiosities)
- (obsolete) Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building. [16th-19th c.]
- 1631, John Smith, Advertisements, in Kupperman 1988, p. 81:
- wee built a homely thing like a barne, set upon Cratchets, covered with rafts, sedge, and earth, so also was the walls; the best of our houses of the like curiosity, but the most part farre much worse workmanship [...].
- 1631, John Smith, Advertisements, in Kupperman 1988, p. 81:
- Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring. [from 17th c.]
- 1956 — Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, p 39:
- "Certainly there is nothing wrong with Alvin's intelligence, but many of the things that should concern him seem to be a matter of complete indifference. On the other hand, he shows a morbid curiosity regarding subjects which we do not generally discuss."
- 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
- It was the first time that the lawyer had been received in that part of his friend's quarters; and he eyed the dingy, windowless structure with curiosity, and gazed round with a distasteful sense of strangeness as he crossed the theatre
- 1956 — Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, p 39:
- A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest. [from 17th c.]
- He put the strangely shaped rock in his curiosity cabinet.
Synonyms [edit]
Antonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore
unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest
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