Cu`ri*os"i*ty (k?`r?-?s"?-t?), n.; pl. Curiosities (-tz). [OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioset'e, curiosit'e, F. curiosit, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See [Currious], and cf. [Curio].]

1.

The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration.

[Obs.]

Bacon.

When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. Shak.

A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity. Evelin.

2.

Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness.

Milton.

3.

That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.

We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town. Addison.

There hath been practiced also a curiosity, to set a tree upon the north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the wall, etc. Bacon.

© [Webster 1913].

curiosity (definition)