cu´ri|ous|ness

cu´ri|ous|ness: cu|ri|ous «KYUR ee uhs», adjective.

1. eager to know: »a curious student. Small children are very curious, and ask many questions. Girls have curious minds And fain would know the end of everything (Elizabeth Barrett Browning).

2. too eager to know; prying: »Some people are always curious about their neighbors' business.

3. a) strange; odd; unusual: »I found a curious old box in the attic.
b) (in booksellers' jargon) pornographic.

4. very odd; peculiar; eccentric: »curious notions. He is a very curious character.

5. very careful; exact: »the curious inquiries of science.

6. Archaic. made with skill.

7. Obsolete. accurate; expert; fastidious.

╂[< Old North French curius (with English -ous), learned borrowing from Latin ūriōsus inquisitive, full of care, ultimately < cūra care]

–cu´ri|ous|ly, adverb.

–cu´ri|ous|ness, noun.

Synonym Study 1, 2 Curious, inquisitive, prying mean eager to find out about things. Curious means eager to learn things, but sometimes suggests being too eager to know about other people's business: »A normal child is curious about how things work. I was curious to know who was visiting our neighbors.
Inquisitive suggests constantly asking questions to find out what one wants to know, especially about personal matters: »She is too inquisitive about my dates.
Prying adds to inquisitive the idea of peeping and of busying oneself about other people's business: »I had prying neighbors.

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ar´du|ous|ness — ar|du|ous «AHR ju uhs», adjective. 1. hard to do; requiring much effort; difficult: »an arduous lesson. SYNONYM(S): laborious. 2. using up much energy; strenuous: »He enjoys an arduous workout in the gymnasium. 3. hard to climb; … Useful english dictionary
con´gru|ous|ness — con|gru|ous «KONG gru uhs», adjective. 1. Geometry. exactly coinciding. 2. in harmony; agreeing. SYNONYM(S): harmonious, accordant, conformable. 3. fitting; appropriate. ╂[< Latin … Useful english dictionary
de´vi|ous|ness — de|vi|ous «DEE vee uhs», adjective. 1. out of the direct way; winding; twisting; roundabout: »We took a devious route through side streets and alleys to avoid the crowded main streets. SYNONYM(S): circuitous, tortuous, rambling. 2. Figurative.… … Useful english dictionary
fat´u|ous|ness — fat|u|ous «FACH u uhs», adjective. 1. stupid but self satisfied; foolish; silly: »a fatuous smile, a fatuous empty headed conversation. These poor Might Have Beens, These fatuous, ineffectual Yesterdays! (William Ernest Henley). SYNONYM(S): See… … Useful english dictionary
imper´vi|ous|ness — im|per|vi|ous «ihm PUR vee uhs», adjective. 1. having no way through; not letting things pass through; allowing no passage: »A raincoat made of rubber is impervious to rain. SYNONYM(S): impermeable. 2. Figurative. not open to argument,… … Useful english dictionary
noc´u|ous|ness — noc|u|ous «NOK yu uhs», adjective. noxious; hurtful; poisonous: »a nocuous gas. ╂[< Latin nocuus (with English ous) < nocēre to harm] –noc´u|ous|ly, adverb. –noc´u|ous|ness, noun … Useful english dictionary
nu´mer|ous|ness — nu|mer|ous «NOO muhr uhs, NYOO », adjective. 1. very many; of great number: »The child asked numerous questions. SYNONYM(S): manifold, several, innumerable. 2. in great numbers; consisting of many; plentiful: »He has a numerous acquaintance among … Useful english dictionary
ob´vi|ous|ness — ob|vi|ous «OB vee uhs», adjective. 1. easily seen or understood; clear to the eye or mind; not to be doubted; plain: »It is obvious that two and two make four. It is obvious that a blind man ought not to drive an automobile. The frail child was… … Useful english dictionary
o´dor|ous|ness — o|dor|ous «OH duhr uhs», adjective. giving forth or having an odor, especially a pleasant odor; sweet smelling; fragrant: »Spices are odorous. ... the odorous breath of morn (Milton). SYNONYM(S): aromatic. ╂[< Latin odorus (with English ous)]… … Useful english dictionary
on´er|ous|ness — on|er|ous «ON uhr uhs», adjective. 1. hard to take or carry; burdensome; oppressive; troublesome: »Overtime work is well paid, but it is often onerous. SYNONYM(S): heavy, weighty, arduous. 2. Law. of the nature of a legal burden or obligation.… … Useful english dictionary

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cu´ri|ous|ness

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