curious English · revision 5124

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1340|origins=la curiosus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkjʊə.ri.əs/, /ˈkjɔː.ri.əs/, US /ˈkjʊr.i.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|curious]], [[bor|fro|curios]] and directly from [[la|cūriōsus|t=careful, diligent; inquisitive]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from cūra “care”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) It is related to [[cure]], [[curate]] and [[accurate]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Eager to know, inquisitive: about 1340 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline has “subtle, sophisticated” from the mid-14th century and “eager to know” from the late 14th.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Careful or studious is from about 1386, and particular in matters of taste from about 1380; both are obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) Made with care and skill is also late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) The objective sense, arousing curiosity because strange or odd, is by 1715,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) probably from the Middle English sense “subtle, occult”.^(Barnhart 1988) In booksellers' catalogues it was a euphemism for “erotic” from 1877.^(Etymonline) ''Curiouser and curiouser'' is from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).^(Etymonline) ''Curiosity'' is from about 1378.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1340 – inquisitive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1380 – particular, fastidious.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – careful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1715 – strange, odd.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1877 – erotic (of books).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Wanting to know or learn about something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Too interested in other people's affairs; [[nosy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strange or unusual, so that it arouses interest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Made with skill or care.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[curiously]]

+ * [[curiousness]]

+ * [[noncurious]]

+ * [[overcurious]]

+ * [[supercurious]]

+ * [[uncurious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[curiosity]]

+ * [[curio]]

+ * [[incurious]]

+ * [[cure]]

+ * [[curate]]

+ * [[accurate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Curious, inquisitive, nosy and snoopy all describe people who want information, and curious most often implies a strong desire to learn, though it can also suggest prying.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}