curiosity

Etymology

From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās. Surface analysis curious + -ity. Displaced native Old English firwitt.

noun

1. (uncountable) Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.
   "Certainly there is nothing wrong with Alvin's intelligence, but many of the things that should concern him seem to be a matter of complete indifference. On the other hand, he shows a morbid curiosity regarding subjects which we do not generally discuss." 1956, Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, page 39
   Curiosity about the power of self-control skills, which include conscientiousness, self-discipline, and perseverance, arose from recent empirical observations that preschool Head Start, an ambitious, federally funded program of special services launched in 1965 to boost the intellectual development of needy children, has failed to achieve the goal of boosting IQ scores. But the programs have unexpectedly succeeded in lowering the former pupils’ rates of teen pregnancy, school dropout, delinquency, and work absenteeism. 2013 September-October, Terrie Moffitt et al., “Lifelong Impact of Early Self-Control”, in American Scientist
2. A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.
   He put the strangely shaped rock in his curiosity cabinet.
3. (obsolete) Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building.
   wee built a homely thing like a barne, set upon Cratchets, covered with rafts, sedge, and earth, so also was the walls; the best of our houses of the like curiosity, but the most part farre much worse workmanship […] 1631, John Smith, Advertisements, Kupperman, published 1988, page 81