curiosity

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 ]