curiosity English · revision 10699
17 Oct 2026, 05:35 by bogdan “en10k b0385: admire … curiosity”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=fro curiosete|origins=la curiositas}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ə.ti/, US /ˌkjʊr.iˈɑː.sə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|fro|curiosete|t=curiosity, avidity, choosiness]] (modern curiosité),^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from Latin cūriōsitās, desire for knowledge, inquisitiveness,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from cūriōsus, careful, inquiring eagerly, meddlesome (see [[curious]]), related to cūra, care (see [[cure]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ In a bad sense, an undue desire to inquire into things, prying: about 1380 in the OED;^(OED 1989) careful attention to detail, also skilled workmanship, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ In Middle English the desire to know was usually seen as a fault, prying or vain interest in worldly things.^(Etymonline) Fastidiousness (about 1386), carefulness (about 1430) and skill or ingenuity (1603) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989) The neutral or good sense, a desire to learn about what is strange or unknown, is from the early 17th century, 1613 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) An object of interest, something rare or strange, is from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) and ''curiosity shop'' from 1818.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1380 – prying inquisitiveness.^(OED 1989)
+ * c. 1391 – attention to detail (obsolete).^(OED 1989)
+ * 1613 – a desire to learn.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1640s – a rare or strange object.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1818 – curiosity shop.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A strong desire to know or learn something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # A desire to know about matters that do not concern one; nosiness.^(AHD)
+ # A strange, rare or interesting object; a [[curio]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[curio]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[curious]]
+ * [[cure]]
+ * [[accurate]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}