curiosus Latin · revision 6306
16 Oct 2026, 06:42 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la cūra}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [kuː.riˈoː.sʊs]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ku.riˈɔː.s̬us]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''cūriōsus''' (feminine cūriōsa, neuter cūriōsum, comparative cūriōsior); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The OLD derives it from [[cūra]] “care” with the suffix [[-ōsus]].^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Wiktionary takes it as a back-formation from [[incūriōsus]] “careless”, removing the negative prefix.^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom the OLD cites for the sense “careworn”.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant careful, diligent, painstaking, as Cicero's man careful in every kind of history, and of things carefully made, as in Celsus.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant over-careful, fussy, as in Varro, and of things laboured, elaborate.^(OLD 2012) It meant eager for knowledge, inquiring, as in Varro, and inquisitive, meddlesome, as in Terence.^(OLD 2012) In Plautus it apparently meant careworn.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant attentive, diligent, careful, devoted, curious.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it meant anxious, careful, skilful, and as a noun a monk in charge of an obedience.^(DMLBS)^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian and Spanish ''curioso''.^(Wiktionary) [[en|curious]] came in the mid-14th century through French, first meaning “subtle”.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of someone careworn.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of an inquisitive person.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a careful historian.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-14th century – English ''curious'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Careful, diligent.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Over-careful, fussy; elaborate.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Eager for knowledge.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Inquisitive, [[m|en|curious]]; meddlesome.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Careworn.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[cūriōsitās]]
+ * [[cūriōsulus]]
+ * [[incūriōsus]]
+ * [[percūriōsus]]
+ * [[cūriōsē]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[cūra]]
+ * [[cūrābilis]]
+ * [[cūragendārius]]
+ * [[cūrāns]]
+ * [[cūrātē]]
+ * [[cūrātiō]]
+ * [[cūrātor]]
+ * [[cūrātōria]]
+ * [[cūrātōrīcius]]
+ * [[cūrātōrius]]
+ * [[en|curious]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}