Cû'ri-ös'i-ty, n.

n. [Lat. curiositas, from curiosus; Fr. curiosité, Pr. curiositat, Sp. curiosidad, Pg. curiosidade, It. curiosità. See CURIOUS.]

1Sense 1. The state or quality of being curious; nicety; accuracy; scrupulousness.

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

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

2Sense 2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness.

Curiosity, inquisitive, importune Of secrets, then with like infirmity To publish them, both female faults. Milton.

3Sense 3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.

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

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