curious, inquisitive

curious, inquisitive
Curious suggests a desire to know, especially to learn about matters that are not really one's concern or business: "This resident is curious about the activities of his neighbors." Inquisitive implies the asking of questions, the act of prying, in order to satisfy curiosity: "This determined fieldworker was inquisitive in her research." A person can be curious while doing nothing more than wondering, but an inquisitive individual engages in spying, peeping, or prying.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • curious — 1 Curious, inquisitive, prying, snoopy, nosy are comparable when meaning interested in finding out or in a search for facts that are not one s personal concern. Curious need not imply objectionable qualities such as intrusiveness or impertinence …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • curious — curiously, adv. curiousness, n. /kyoor ee euhs/, adj. 1. eager to learn or know; inquisitive. 2. prying; meddlesome. 3. arousing or exciting speculation, interest, or attention through being inexplicable or highly unusual; odd; strange: a curious …   Universalium

  • curious — adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure Date: 14th century 1. a. archaic made carefully b. obsolete …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • inquisitive — See curious. See curious, inquisitive …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • curious — See curious, inquisitive …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Inquisitive — In*quis i*tive, a. [OE. inquisitif, F. inquisitif.] 1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer. [1913 Webster] A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent. Broome. [1913 Webster] 2. Given to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curious — Cu ri*ous (k? r? ?s), a. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See {Cure}.] 1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Little… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curious arts — Curious Cu ri*ous (k? r? ?s), a. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See {Cure}.] 1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • curious — [kyoor′ē əs] adj. sometimes compar.curiouser: often in allusion to Lewis Carroll s Alice s Adventures in Wonderland [ME < OFr curios < L curiosus, careful, diligent, curious; akin to cura, care: see CURE] 1. eager to learn or know 2.… …   English World dictionary

  • Inquisitive — In*quis i*tive, n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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