curiosity

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās. By surface analysis, curious +‎ -ity. Displaced native Old English firwitt. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kyo͝or'ēŏsʹətē, kyôr'ēŏsʹətē, IPA(key): /ˌkjʊə.ɹiˈɒs.ə.ti/, /ˌkjɔːɹiˈɒs.ə.ti/, /-ɪ.ti/ (General American) enPR: kyo͝or'ēŏsʹətē, kyûr'ēŏsʹətē, IPA(key): /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/, /ˌkjɝ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/, /-ɪ.ti/ (dialectal or informal) enPR: kyo͝o'rŏsʹətē, kyô'rŏsʹətē, kyû'rŏsʹətē, IPA(key): /ˌkjʊəˈɹɒsəti/, /ˌkjɔːˈɹɒsəti/, /ˌkjɝˈɒsəti/ Rhymes: -ɒsɪti === Noun === curiosity (countable and uncountable, plural curiosities) (uncountable) Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring. [from 17th c.] Synonym: inquisitiveness Antonym: ignorance A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest. [from 17th c.] (obsolete) Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building. [16th–19th c.] ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== curious ==== Translations ==== === References ===