CURIOSITY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Curiosity

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/kjˌʊriˈɑsəti/ Listen

noun

Curiosity n. (pl. curiosities)

The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. (Obs.) "When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity." "A screen accurately cut in tapiary work... with great curiosity."

Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness.

That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention. "We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town." "There hath been practiced also a curiosity, to set a tree upon the north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the wall, etc."

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Etymology of 'Curiosity'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Curiosity" Quotes from Famous Books

... to quantity, their garments were dirty in the extreme. They appeared to go about the camp as freely as the men, who showed no anger or annoyance when we looked at them,— which, as Ben observed, was not surprising, considering how hideous they were. They gathered round, looking with curiosity at our white skins and strange dresses; but, out of respect to the chief, of whom they seemed to stand in awe, they ...

— Saved from the Sea - The Loss of the Viper, and her Crew's Saharan Adventures • W.H.G. Kingston

... legend not traceable to within some thousand years of the facts with which it claims to be connected, those may take an interest in it who like so to do. But as far as we may regard Lamech's address to his wives in the light of a philological curiosity, it is interesting to observe how naturally the language of passion runs into poetry; and that this, the most ancient poetry in existence, is in strict unison with the peculiar character of subsequent ...

— Notes and Queries, Number 183, April 30, 1853 • Various

... publication of a financial report was, M. Necker thought, likely to inspire the same confidence in France. It was paying a great compliment to public opinion to attribute to it the power derived from free institutions and to expect from satisfied curiosity the serious results of a control as ...

— A Popular History of France From The Earliest Times - Volume VI. of VI. • Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot

... the good and evil impulses he intended to select from in his creative work. He gave her strict orders not to open the box, lest its contents escape and work woe to the coming mortals. But as woman's curiosity never was restrained by any power, human or divine, since Mother Eve ate apples, and most likely never will be, no sooner had Pandora set out upon her return than she lifted the lid of that fatal box, and the result to the human race need not be enlarged upon. One good result ...

— Pocket Island - A Story of Country Life in New England • Charles Clark Munn

... come thither during Lent expressly to enjoy this spectacle; and as the music of the Sixtine Chapel and the illumination of St Peter's are beauties unique in themselves, it is natural that they should excite a lively curiosity; but expectation is not equally satisfied. The ceremonies themselves, properly speaking—the dinner of the twelve Apostles, served by the Pope, the washing of the feet by him, and all the different customs of this solemn ...

— Corinne, Volume 1 (of 2) - Or Italy • Mme de Stael

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