Main Entry:

cu·ri·ous

Pronunciation:

\ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure

Date:

14th century

1 aarchaic : made carefully bobsolete : abstruse carchaic : precisely accurate2 a: marked by desire to investigate and learn b: marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy3: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd <a curious coincidence>

— cu·ri·ous·ness noun

synonyms curious, inquisitive, prying mean interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern. curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know <children are curious about everything>. inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing <dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives>. prying implies busy meddling and officiousness <prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business>.