curio

a. [ Gr. kyriologiko`s speaking literally (applied to curiologic hieroglyphics); ky`rios authoritative, proper + lo`gos word, thought. Cf. Cyriologic. ] Pertaining to a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in which a thing is represented by its picture instead of by a symbol. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Curiosities [ OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosité, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Curious, and cf. Curio. ] 1. The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity. Evelin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Curiosos [ It. See Curious. ] A virtuoso. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure. ] 1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Little curious in her clothes. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

How shall we,
If he be curious, work upon his faith? Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate; wrought with elegance or skill. [ 1913 Webster ]

To devise curious works. Ex. xxxv. 32 [ 1913 Webster ]

His body couched in a curious bed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Careful or anxious to learn; eager for knowledge; given to research or inquiry; habitually inquisitive; prying; -- sometimes with after or of. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a pity a gentleman so very curious after things that were elegant and beautiful should not have been as curious as to their origin, their uses, and their natural history. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Exciting attention or inquiry; awakening surprise; inviting and rewarding inquisitiveness; not simple or plain; strange; rare. “Acurious tale” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A multitude of curious analogies. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore. E. A. Poe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abstruse investigations in recondite branches of learning or sciense often bring to light curious results. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Curious arts, magic. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Many . . . which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them. Acts xix. 19.

Syn. -- Inquisitive; prying. See Inquisitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a curious manner. [ 1913 Webster ]