Forms: 4–5 cory-, curiouste, 5 curyouste(e, -oste, coriouste, curiowstee, (curyste); also 4–6 curiosite, 5 cury-, curiosite(e, -syte(e, -sytye, 6 curiositye, (kewriosyte), 6–7 curiositie, 6– -ty. [a. OF. curioseté (Anglo-Fr. curiouseté), ad. L. cūriōsitāt-em, f. cūriōs-us: see CURIOUS and -TY. Subsequently conformed more closely to the Latin, both in French as curiosité, and in Eng. as curiositie, -ity.]
I. As a personal attribute.
† 1. Carefulness, the application of care or attention. Obs.
c. 1430. Freemasonry, 32. He that lernede best … And passud hys felows yn curyste.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 87. Cæs. Commentaries are to be read with all curiositie.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. iv. § 1 (1622), 20. They which haue marked, with very great curiositie, the memorable things of euery Countrie.
1747. Gould, Eng. Ants, 56. A little Curiosity in Observation will easily remove so plain an Error.
† 2. Careful attention to detail; scrupulousness; exactness, accuracy. Obs.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 14. heading, To knowe the degree of the sonne by thy riet, for a maner curiosite.
1559. Scot, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. x. 28. If they be … examyned againe and againe, this curiositie will never come to any end.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 9. Everie one will not suffer such curiositie as they require in ye placing of a house.
1630. Sanderson, Serm. (1681), II. 281. The Curiosity that Men use in Weighing Gold or precious Quintessences for Medicine.
1694. Acc. Sev. Late Voy. (1711), p. xxiii. To take the most exact account of all the Coasts … and to report them at their return with all possible Curiosity.
† 3. Proficiency attained by careful application; skill, cleverness, ingenuity. Obs.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 353. Beside her incomparable beautie … adorned also with all that curiositie could deuise.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 58. If our Dioptics could attain to that curiosity as to grind us such Glasses … we might hazard at last the discovery of Spiritualities themselves.
1676. Shadwell, Virtuoso, II. You will arrive at that curiosity in this watery science [swimming], that not a frog breathing will exceed you.
1742. Leoni, Palladio’s Archit., I. 10. Sumptuous Buildings, which requir’d more Curiosity.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. III. ii. 113. Many expert pilots, and other persons of curiosity who have employed their attention on it.
† 4. Care or attention carried to excess or unduly bestowed upon matters of inferior moment. a. Undue niceness or fastidiousness as to food, clothing, matters of taste and behavior. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 755. The ferthe is, curiosite [v.r. coriouste] with gret entent to make and apparayle his mete.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 2148. Common clething als he vsed, All’ curyouste he refused.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570), F j. Though I forbid thee proude curiositie Yet do I not counsell nor moue thee to rudenes.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xxii. The curiositie and wanton appetite of Heliogabalus.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess., II. xxviii. (1631), 23. We of these latter times full of a nice curiosity, mislike all the performances of our fore-fathers.
1672. Cave, Prim. Chr., II. iv. (1673), 68. A vicious curiosity about meats and drinks.
1766. Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom. (ed. 4), I. ii. 59. In affairs of this kind, it is but just to allow to women a degree of curiosity and care.
† b. Unduly minute or subtle treatment; nicety, subtlety. Obs.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iv. § 6 (1873), 32. This same unprofitable subtility or curiosity is of two sorts.
1620. Markham, Farew. Husb., II. xix. (1668), 103. Besides many other Seeds, which would … shew but too much curiosity to repeat.
1680. Burnet, Rochester, 106. The Opposition of Hereticks anciently, occasioned too much Curiosity among the Fathers.
5. Desire to know or learn: † a. In a blamable sense: The disposition to inquire too minutely into anything; undue or inquisitive desire to know or learn. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 227. Bi þis answere moun we se how curiouste of science or unskilful coveitise of cunnynge, is to dampne. Ibid. (1388), Num. iv. 20. Othere men se not bi ony curiouste tho thingis that ben in the seyntuarie … ellis thei schulen die.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. That ye neuer by way of curiosite be besy to attempte ony persone therin.
1604. Hieron, Wks., I. 488. It is curiositie to enquire into that which God hath concealed.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 142. Curiosity is the spiritual adultery of the soul. Curiosity is spiritual drunkenness.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. 1842, I. 5. You feared, that the curiosity of this search might endanger the ruin of the whole fabrick.
b. In a neutral or good sense: The desire or inclination to know or learn about anything, esp. what is novel or strange; a feeling of interest leading one to inquire about anything.
1613. J. Salkeld, Treat. Angels, 43. But peraduenture some may with no lesse reason then iust curiositie demaund, how then shall we know.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 12. A noble and solid curiosity of knowing things in their beginnings.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., II. (1843), 44/2. There was so little curiosity … in the country to know any thing of Scotland.
1665. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 382. In curiosity I put some of the wood into my mouth and chewed it.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 337. A Plant, which he resuscitated in the presence of any, whose Curiosities brought them to see it.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 253. He had perhaps at first raised this curiosity in me.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xiv. Your curiosity is roused at last.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 393. Nor had you any curiosity to know other states or their laws.
c. Inquisitiveness in reference to trifles or matters which do not concern one.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 95. What was the cause why Dina was rauished? was it not hir curiositie?
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 134. Curiositie, which I take to be a desire to know the faults and imperfections in other men.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 113. Curiosity—looking over other people’s affairs and overlooking our own.
1887. T. Fowler, Princ. Morals, II. i. 44. Curiosity … is usually employed to denote the habit of inquisitiveness as to trifles, and especially as to the private affairs of one’s neighbours.
† 6. Scientific or artistic interest; the quality of a curioso or virtuoso; connoisseurship. Obs.
1661. Evelyn, Diary (1827), II. 175. I dined at Mr. Palmer’s in Gray’s Inn, whose curiosity excell’d in clocks.
1694. Molesworth, Acct. Sweden, 47. This … qualifies them more for a Life of Labour and Fatigue, than of Art and Curiosity.
1779–81. Johnson, L. P., Addison, Wks. III. 73. Mr. Locker … was eminent for curiosity and literature.
† 7. A pursuit in which any one takes an interest, or for which he has a fancy; a hobby. Obs.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. v. Had their curiosities been sedentary.
1653. Walton, Angler, Ep. Ded. 4. This pleasant curiositie of Fish and Fishing … has been thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in other Nations.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 487. Fertilizing of barren ground may be termed a charitable curiosity employing many poor people therein.
† 8. A desire to make trial or experience of anything novel; trifling interest or desire; a fancy, a whim. Obs.
1605. Jas. I., Gunp. Plot, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 13. [Parliament] is no place for particular men to utter there their private conceipts, nor for satisfaction of their curiosities.
1663. Flagellum; or O. Cromwell (ed. 2), 7. He was placed in Sydney Colledge, more to satisfie his Fathers curiosity and desire, than out of any hopes of Completing him in his Studies.
1672. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. x. (1673), 295. A curiosity in many in those times of being baptized in Jordan.
a. 1718. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 499. He wholly denied his Wife the Curiosity of changing of but one Piece of foreign Gold.
II. As a quality of things.
† 9. Careful or elaborate workmanship; perfection of construction; elaborateness, elegance; artistic character. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 8. Ȝif þei drawen þe peple in þe holiday by coryouste of gaye wyndownes.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 383. I … axe … that my boke be nought refused … For lack of curiosite.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 72/3. To wryte the curiosyte and werke of the temple … passeth my connynge to expresse.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXVII. lviii. Betrapped fayre and gaye Wyth shyning trappers of curiositie.
1584. Burghley, Lett., in Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. v. § 9. An instrument of 24 Articles of great length and curiosity, formed in a Romish stile.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 163. You can hardly look on the scales of any Fish, but you may discover abundance of curiosity and beautifying.
1673. Lady’s Call., I. v. ¶ 53. 49. Because they are loth … to abate any thing of the curiosity of their dress.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 90. The Regularity of Motion, visible in the great variety and Curiosity of Bodies.
† 10. Careful accuracy of construction; nicety, delicacy. Obs.
1593. T. Fale, Dialling, A iij. The making of the Horologicall Cylindre, and the Ring … we have presently omitted, partly for their curiosity in cutting and delineation.
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., Pref. (1769), 35. This art … is arrived to the utmost curiosity and accurateness.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., III. 170. How many ticklish Curiosities, and nice Circumstances there are to perform this Experiment exactly.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 21. The chiefest Curiosity in the making … Hinges is, 1. That the Pin-bole be exactly round … 2. That the Joints are let exactly into one another.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett., I. 154. An idea of the curiosity with which these things are constructed.
11. The quality of being curious or interesting from novelty or strangeness; curiousness.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 105. This I thought good to shew you, not for anie curiositie which is in it, but [etc.].
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, Ep. Ded. The operations themselves … are devoid of curiosity.
1686. R. Berkeley, in Evelyn’s Mem. (1857), III. 283. From thence we went the next day to Rotterdam, where the curiosity of the place detained us three days.
1774. T. Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. App. 124. The distance between these, and the instructions actually adopted, is of some curiosity.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 96. The curiosity of which was overlaid by their multitude.
III. A matter or thing that has this quality.
† 12. A curious question or matter of investigation; a nicety of argument; a subtlety. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 6. Ȝif þei … traveilen not in holy writt but veyn pleies and corioustees.
1586. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., I. 152. Their subtilties and bold curiosities, who have sought to plucke … out of heaven the secrets hid from the angels.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xiii. (1611), 206. These nice curiosities are not worthie the labour which wee bestow to answere them.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., 367. Troubling the peace of the Church, with impertinent and inextricable curiosities.
1641. Milton, Ch. Govt., II. (1851), 145. Not to make verbal curiosities the end.
1678. Owen, Mind of God, v. 144. A wrangling science filled with niceties, subtilties, curiosities, futilous termes of Art, and other fuel for the minds of fiery contenders in wrangling disputations.
1700. Astry, trans. Saavedra-Faxardo, I. 198. The Books which contain’d idle Curiosities were burnt.
† b. A curious or ingenious art, experiment, etc.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 243. Divers curious men … by the falling of a ring Magically prepared … judged that one Theodorus should succeede in the Empire…. By like curiosities it was found that Odo should succeede.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 431. There hath been practised also a curiosity, to set a Tree upon the North side of a Wall [etc.].
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 36. They note him to have had certain curiosities, and secret wayes of intelligence above the rest.
† 13. A matter upon which undue care is bestowed; a vanity, nicety, refinement. Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 108. Þat he wast himsilf and his goodis, and oþer mennis, in lustis, and in oþer veyn curiositeis.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, IV. iii. (1860), K v b. Therfore ought the good women fle the curiositees and places where they myght falle in blame.
a. 1536. Tindale, Wks., 238 (R.). Ye greater nomber receaue the wordes for a newnesse and curiositie (as they say).
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. I. ii. 35. This fashion, and the like curiosities, I would haue an Englishman to leaue when he returns out of Italy.
1643. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea, ii. (1652), 180. When we are in danger to be stripped of all, it is not time then to stand about curiosities and niceties.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr. (ed. 2), I. 97. Useless Curiosities, and … such as tend to adorn, but not at all to amend the Man?
† 14. A curious detail, feature or trait. Obs.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. xii. (1712), 79. The Eye … is so exquisitely framed … that not the least curiosity can be added.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 47. Moscovy-glass, or Lapis speculans, is a Body that seems to have as many Curiosities in its Fabrick as any common Mineral I have met with.
1747. Gould, Eng. Ants, 17. Pliny informs us that the Ants of his Country are wont to bury their Dead, which is a Curiosity not imitated by ours in England.
15. An object of interest; any object valued as curious, rare or strange.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. I. xviii. Amongst other Curiosities which he pleased to shew me up and down Paris.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 201. The Narcissus of Japan … that nice Curiosity.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1845), 361. heading, Upon the sight of a Branch of Corral among a great Prince’s Collection of Curiosities.
1710. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 39. These Pyxides or Boxes are mention’d … as great curiosities.
1770. Kuckhan, in Phil. Trans., LX. 302. Collecting natural curiosities of the insect, bird, and beast kinds.
1869. R. Semmes, Service Afloat, xlix. 694–5. The cargo, consisting mostly of light Japanese goods, lacker-ware, and curiosities.
† b. collect. = Curious things. Obs.
1786. W. Gilpin, Mount. & Lakes, I. p. xxii. The bowels of the earth, containing such amazing stores of curiosity.
c. Applied to a person who is ‘queer’ in his appearance, habits, etc.; cf. oddity.
1873. Slang Dict., Cure, an odd person; a contemptuous term, abridged from curiosity, which was formerly the favourite expression.
16. Comb., as curiosity-dealer, -monger; curiosity-shop, a shop where curiosities are bought and sold.
1789. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Subj. for Painters, Wks. 1812, II. 182. Made frequent Curiosity-campaigns.
1818. Hazlitt, Eng. Poets, v. (1870), 128. A museum or curiosity-shop.
1840. Dickens (title), Old Curiosity Shop. Ibid., i. The curiosity-dealer’s warehouse.
1860. All Year Round, No. 74. 569. One—a notable curiosity-monger.
