From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Inquisitive \In*quis"i*tive\, n.
A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. --Sir
W. Temple.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Inquisitive \In*quis"i*tive\, a. [OE. inquisitif, F.
inquisitif.]
1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do
not concern the inquirer.
[1913 Webster]
A wise man is not inquisitive about things
impertinent. --Broome.
[1913 Webster]
2. Given to examination, investigation, or research;
searching; curious.
[1913 Webster]
A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius. --I.
Watts.
Syn: Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive.
Usage: {Inquisitive}, {Curious}, {Prying}. Curious denotes a
feeling, and inquisitive a habit. We are curious when
we desire to learn something new; we are inquisitive
when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or
research. Prying implies inquisitiveness, and is more
commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire
to penetrate into the secrets of others.
[1913 Webster]
[We] curious are to hear,
What happens new. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy
work!
Which not even critics criticise; that holds
Inquisitive attention, while I read. --Cowper.
[1913 Webster]
Nor need we with a prying eye survey
The distant skies, to find the Milky Way.
--Creech.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
inquisitive
adj 1: showing curiosity; "if someone saw a man climbing a light
post they might get inquisitive"; "raised a speculative
eyebrow" [syn: {inquisitive}, {speculative},
{questioning}, {wondering(a)}]
2: inquiring or appearing to inquire; "an inquiring look"; "the
police are proverbially inquisitive"
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