Curious

a. Forms: 4–5 coryous, -ious, curiuse, -yus, 4–6 curiouse, -yous, 5 corius, -iouse, -yowse, curiouss, -iowse, -ose, -yws, -yose, 5–6 curyouse, -ius, 6 courious, 4– curious. [a. OF. curius (Ch. de Rol., 11th c.) = Pr. curios, Sp. and It. curioso:—L. cūriōs-us used only subjectively ‘full of care or pains, careful, assiduous, inquisitive’; French has also the objective sense in 14th c. (robes curieuses).]

  A word which has been used from time to time with many shades of meaning; the only senses now really current are 5, 16, and (in some applications) 9.

  I.  As a subjective quality of persons.

  † 1.  Bestowing care or pains; careful; studious, attentive. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Shipman’s T., 243. My deere wif, I the byseeke … For to kepe oure good be curious.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VI. clx. 152. He shold take hym vnto his cure, and be to hym as curyous as he wolde be vnto his owne chylde.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 109. Melusyne was full curyous and besy to make al thinges redy.

1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, V. 457. But the curious servant of Philanax forbade him the entry.

1650.  Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, i. § 1. He that is curious of his time, will not easily be unready and unfurnished.

1721.  R. Bradley, Wks. Nat., 20. The French Gardeners … are … very curious to observe, that no broken part of a mushroom be left.

1779–81.  Johnson, L. P., Cowley, Wks. II. 38. They were not always strictly curious, whether the opinions … were true.

  † b.  Anxious, concerned, solicitous. Obs.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1052. Many a traitour envious, That ben ful busie and curious For to dispraise, and to blame.

1513.  More, in Grafton, Chron., II. 783. Amongest them that were more amorous of her bodie, then curious of her soule.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 191. And I am something curious … To haue them in safe stowage.

a. 1697.  Strathspey, Lett., in Aubrey’s Misc., 212. Being curious for nothing but the Verity.

  † 2.  Careful as to the standard of excellence; difficult to satisfy; particular; nice, fastidious. Obs. a. esp. in food, clothing, matters of taste.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 205. Take meete and drinke in mesure, ne to costli ne to licorouse, and be not to corious þeraboute.

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of A., I. vii. 17. Not curyous of mygnotes, folyetes ne of iewellis.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 118. Be not curious to curle thy haire.

a. 1591.  H. Smith, Serm. (1866), II. 329. Christ was not curious in his diet.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1637), 285. There was one that was very curious in keeping of his beard.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 45. They soon became … curious in their diet and apparel.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., iii. In arranging which [the hair] men at that time … were very nice and curious.

  † b.  generally. Particular; cautious. Obs.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), H ii. Wise among wyse men, as it is couenable for a curiouse prynce to be.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iv. 36. For curious I cannot be with you, Signior Baptista.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. III. iii. 252. The Italians, in regard of their clime, are very curious to receive strangers in a time of plague.

1662.  Gerbier, Princ., 15. Builders ought also to be very curious and carefull in the choice of the place to Build a Seat on.

1692.  Locke, Educ., § 92. In this Choice be as curious, as you would be in that of a Wife for him.

1772.  Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 375. Men of integrity are curious, sometimes too curious, in the choice of means.

  † c.  Particular about details, or as to manner of action. Obs.

1570.  B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., Ded. Q. Eliz. Wherein I haue the lesse beene curious, bycause it was chiefely made for the benifite of the common and simpler sorte.

1655.  Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., II. 243. What is the Gospel of all this? but that God is very curious in his worship.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. A iij b. I have not been curious as to the spelling of the Names of Places, Plants, Fruits, Animals.

1743.  Lond. & Country Brewer, III. (ed. 2), 195. The Alewives … are most of them as curious in their brewing it [White Ale] as the Dairy-woman in making her Butter.

  † 3.  Careful or nice in observation or investigation, accurate. Obs.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxi. 137. Having in his whole voyage, though a curious searcher after the time, lost one day.

1764.  Harmer, Observ., XXI. xi. 88. Ascertained by some curious and accurate person.

1816.  Singer, Hist. Cards, i. 10. It is to be desired that some curious orientalist may … think the subject worthy an attentive inquiry.

  b.  Said of the eye, ear, etc.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iv. 31. What curious eye doth quote deformities?

1684.  R. H., School of Recreation, 9. The little Beagle … is of exceeding Cunning, and curious Scent in Hunting.

1699.  Bentley, Phal., 208. The difference in these Letters is very small, and such as might escape even a curious Eye in so dim an Inscription.

a. 1713.  Ellwood, Autobiog. (1714), 125. Having a curious Ear, he understood by my Tone, when I understood what I read, and when I did not.

  † 4.  Ingenious, skilful, clever, expert. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 359. A crafty man and a curiouss.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11677. A tre, But no clerke is so corious to ken vs the nome.

1582.  T. Watson, Cent. Loue, Ep. Ded. The curious pensill of Apelles.

1651.  Fuller, Abel Rediv., Junius (1867), II. 185. A curious limner was employed to draw his picture to the life.

1715.  J. Richardson, Th. Painting, 28. A curious Mechanick’s Hand must be exquisite.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), III. 252. That neat and curious painter Vander Heyden.

  5.  Desirous of seeing or knowing; eager to learn; inquisitive. Often with condemnatory connotation: Desirous of knowing what one has no right to know, or what does not concern one, prying. (The current subjective sense.)

c. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter cxxxvi. 3. Þei are curiouse & wold witt þat þei are nouȝt worthi till.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IV. 687. Bot feill folk ar sa curiouss, And to wit thingis covatouss.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 29. That somme man is to curiouse In studye.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 18 b. How no persone sholde be curyous in askyng questyons concernynge the secretes of god.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xliv. 172. He was a man very curious, and much inclined to hear of novelties, and rare things.

1754.  Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xiii. 72. Those branches of science which … serve for amusement to inquisitive and curious minds.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, x. 116. Two or three neighbours … were curious to know what he had seen abroad.

1873.  Hale, In His Name, vi. 64/1. Less crowded with curious idlers.

  † b.  Minute in inquiry or discrimination, subtle.

a. 1585.  Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 116. The quiddities of too curious schoolmen.

  † c.  Devoting attention to occult art. Obs.

1549.  Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Eph., Argt. That Citie was full of Curiouse menne, and suche as were geuen to magicall artes.

1578.  Timme, Caluine on Gen., 35. Certaine courious persons abuse this place to colour their vaine prognostications.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 137. Curious men, that consulte with starres, and spirits, for their destinies.

  d.  Of actions, etc.: Prompted by curiosity.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, i. Every now and then she stole a curious look at my face as if to make quite sure that I was not deceiving her.

1876.  Blackie, Songs Relig. & Life, 191. Live, and make no curious comment.

  † 6.  Taking the interest of a connoisseur in any branch of art; skilled as a connoisseur or virtuoso. Const. of, in and infin. Obs.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 170 b. Yet of many curious and fine fellowes, for their rarenesse and daintinesse, they [pheasants] are brought up, and kept.

1644.  Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 69. Monsieur Morine … one of the most skilful and curious persons in France for his rare collection of shells, flowers, and insects. Ibid. (1693), De la Quint. Compl. Gard., I. 24. Gentlemen that are Curious in Gard’ning.

1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VII. XVII. § 8. 238. He was exceedingly curious in pictures and designs by great masters.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 177, ¶ 5. A select company of curious men, who met once a week to exhilarate their studies, and compare their acquisitions. Every one of these virtuosos [etc.].

1792.  Copper-Plate Mag., No. 6. The bishop’s family being curious botanists.

  b.  In this sense often absolutely in pl.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 115. Her Carauans lodge exceeds her Mosque, yet neither, of power to beget admiration with the curious.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. ii. (1743), 158. There are several Specimens yet remaining in the Cabinets of the Curious.

1768.  W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints, 241. A few impressions had been taken from the plate in its first state, which sell among the curious for ten times the price.

1838–9.  Hallam, Hist. Lit., II. ii. II. § 59. The curious in bibliography are conversant with other versions and editions of the sixteenth century.

  II.  As an objective quality of things, etc.

  † 7.  Made with care or art; skilfully, elaborately or beautifully wrought. Obs.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 125. Moo curiouse portreytures … then I sawgh euer.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 61. Thare a citee he sette … with curious walles.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 7848. A bischop staff was preciouse, And in makyng full curiouse.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 54. Doth not experience teach vs, that in the most curious Sepulcher are enclosed rotten bones?

1611.  Bible, Ex. xxviii. 27. The curious girdle of the Ephod.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., II. ix. (1712), 67. Made themselves such curious and safe Nests in Bushes and Trees.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 21. If your Work be intended to be curious, the true Square-filing the Upper-side … is a great Ornament.

1760–72.  trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. IV. ix. 182. [Boats] … of a more curious and elegant construction.

  † b.  Of food, clothing, etc.: Exquisitely prepared, dainty, delicate, recherché. Obs. or arch.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1353. In þe clernes of his concubines & curious wedez.

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 765. And comeren her stomakes With curiuse drynkes.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy), p. lxvi. I aske no palace nor lodging curious.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 53. His Viands sparkling in a Golden Cup, His bodie couched in a curious bed.

1615.  J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess., A vij b. The inviter … cannot well provide … One dish so curious, as may please each tast.

1702.  C. Mather, Magn. Chr., III. I. i. (1852), 276. He made a careful, though not curious, diet serve him.

1865.  Swinburne, Poems & Ball., Leper, 6. I served her wine and curious meat.

  † 8.  Carefully worked out or prepared; elaborate. Obs.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. 145. Y^e obiections are not so strong that they nede a curious confutation.

1573.  G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 44. Not to look after ani set or curious epistle.

1614.  Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 839. Persecuted with most curious torments.

1674.  Brevint, Saul at Endor, 363. Served with the curiousest Music.

  9.  Of actions, investigations, etc.: Characterized by special care, careful, accurate, minute.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 142 b. Stones quadrat or squared, polysshed & dressed after the moost curyous maner.

a. 1534.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), G viii b. He made curious diligence to searche out all the players.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 168. It did not sufficiently appear … without a more curious examination.

1667.  Observ. Burning London, in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 446. A more curious and earnest inquiry of the truth.

1859.  Disraeli, Sp., in Times, 22 July, 5/5. A subject, which demands the most curious investigation.

1866.  Argyle, Reign Law, vii. (1871), 340. Many years of curious enquiry and of laborious contrivance.

  † 10.  Characterized by minute inquiry or treatment: a. Unduly minute or inquisitive. Obs.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 3. The name of Ihesu … dos a-waye coryous and vayne ocupacyons fra vs.

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxxv. 15. Nether hath he pleasure in curious and depe inquisicions.

1577.  Vautrouillier, Luther on Ep. Gal., 16. We must abstaine from y^e curious searching of Gods maiestie.

1654.  Fuller, Two Serm., 63. [This question] is curious for man to enquire and impossible to determine.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., ix. 1853. ’Tis not the curious, but the pious path, That leads me to my point.

  † b.  Intricate, abstruse, subtle. Obs.

c. 1391.  Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. 2. That curio[u]s enditing & hard sentence is ful heuy atones for swich a child to lerne.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. iv. 137. The maner of syngyng … was not so curyouse as hyt ys now.

1563.  Fulke, Meteors (1640), 70 b. A Mathematicall reason … more curious, than can be understood of the common sort.

1613.  J. Salkeld, Treat. Angels, 335. Amongst other very curious Questions which Theodoretus vpon Genesis propoundeth, one is this.

1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., Pref. 10. In these narrow Engines [microscopic animals] there is more curious Mathematics.

  † c.  Recondite, occult. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, Acts xix. 19. Manye of hem that sueden curiouse thingis brouȝten to gidere bookis, and brennyden hem bifore alle men.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 392. As yonge clerkes that been lykerous To reden Artes that been curious … a book he say Of Magyk natureel.

1611.  Bible, Acts xix. 19. Many also of them which vsed curious arts, brought their bookes together and burned them before all men.

1619.  Sir A. Gorges, trans. Bacon’s De Sap. Vet., 95. Unlawfull and curious arts of what kind soever.

  † 11.  Minutely accurate, exact, precise. Obs.

1614.  Selden, Titles Hon., II. i. § 43. Your curious learning and judgment may correct where I have erred.

1665.  Hooke, Microgr., 2. The Points of the most curious Mathematical Instruments.

1672.  Petty, Pol. Anat., Pref. Curious Dissections cannot be made without variety of proper Instruments.

1764.  Dunn, in Phil. Trans., LIV. 115. I set my watch exactly by the clocks; captain Bentincke and captain Holland were present with curious watches.

1825.  Carlyle, Schiller, II. (1845), 57. Formed upon a strict and curious standard.

  † 12.  Of materials: Fine, delicate. Obs.

1665.  Hooke, Microgr., 4. Even the most curious Powder that can be made use of … must consist of … rough particles. Ibid., 5. The finest Lawn … so curious that the threads were scarce discernable by the naked eye.

1669.  A. Browne, Ars Pict. (1675), 87. Draw the lines of the Eyelids … with a pencil somewhat more curious and sharp then before.

  † 13.  Of or pertaining to the exercise of care, skill or ingenuity; skilled, skilful. Obs. (Cf. 4.)

1681.  Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., Pref. It is not Fine, Curious, and Skilful Angling, that destroys the breed of Fish.

a. 1687.  Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1691), 33. As Trades and curious Arts increase; so the Trade of Husbandry will decrease.

1776.  Adam Smith, W. N., I. xi. (1869), I. 163. He decides, like a true lover of all curious cultivation, in favour of the vineyard.

  † 14.  Without explicit reference to workmanship: Exquisite, choice, excellent, fine (in beauty, flavor, or other good quality). Obs. or dial. (Cf. mod. use of nice.)

c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., lii. Maydyns … curtase and curiowse Forsothe in bed lay.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 17. He gat on hir ane sone callit Fergus, In all this warld wes nane mair curious.

1638.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 297. The Orenges … are … of so curious a relish, as affects the eater beyond measure. Ibid., 354. Cloath’d with sweet grasse, long and curious.

1665.  Pepys, Diary, 24 Sept. A very calm, curious morning.

1667.  Primatt, City & C. Build., 10. Salisbury Plain, and divers other places of champion ground in England, which are very famous for curious air.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. xv. 436. We filled all our Water at a curious Brook close by us.

1725.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Vinegar, In about thirty or forty Days it will be curious Vinegar.

1742.  Phil. Trans., XLII. 148. (In Suffolk) She said … if her Butter was not curious, she eat dry Bread.

1816.  J. Pickering, Vocab. U.S., Curious … is often heard in New England among the common farmers, in the sense of ‘excellent,’ or ‘peculiarly excellent’; as in … ‘These are curious apples’; ‘this is curious cider.’

  † 15.  Calling forth feelings of interest; interesting, noteworthy. Obs. or arch.

1682.  Burnet, Rights Princes, iv. 135. The curiousest Remains of former Ages that are extant.

1759.  Sir J. Reynolds, Idler, No. 76, ¶ 5. It is curious to observe, that [etc.].

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 56. [It] would have been not only curious, but useful, had it been handed down to us.

1816.  Keatinge, Trav. (1817), II. 80. It would be very curious to be able to ascertain where and how the scaffolding was obtained for such a work.

  16.  Deserving or exciting attention on account of its novelty or peculiarity; exciting curiosity; somewhat surprising, strange, singular, odd; queer. (The ordinary current objective sense.)

1795.  J. Richardson, Th. Painting, 100. This is very Particular, and Curious. Ibid. (1719), Sc. Connoisseur, 204. What is Rare, and Curious without any Other consideration we Naturally take Pleasure in.

1769.  Burke, Observ. Late State Nation, Wks. 1812, I. 101. A most curious reason, truly!

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 509. No curious shell, rare plant, or brilliant spar, Inticed our traveller.

1869.  Dilke, Greater Brit., II. 163. Seated in the piazza … I had before me a curious scene.

1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. xc. 251. I give here a few of the novel or curious provisions of the Constitution of California of 1789.

  † 17.  Such as interests the curioso or connoisseur. Obs.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1669), 359. The number of fine things that make up this curious collection.

1719.  J. Richardson, Sc. Connoisseur, 45. Pictures, Drawings, Prints, Statues, Intaglias, and the like Curious Works of Art.

1731–7.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Iris, They are generally banish’d from very curious Gardens, and are proper only for large Gardens.

1768.  W. Gilpin, Ess. Prints, 145. In curious collections we meet with a few of Cuyps etchings.

  III.  † 18. quasi-adv. Curiously. Obs.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 1300. This is too curious-good, this blunt and ill.

a. 1644.  Quarles, 11 Pious Medit. (1717). 64. They were not wise enough, and yet too wise; Too curious wise.

1687.  Congreve, Old Bach., IV. xvii. ’Tis most curious fine weather.

1791.  Cowper, Odyss., XXI. 460. Within the hall, let none look curious forth.

1834.  J. H. Newman, Lett. (1891), II. 39. Curious enough, Rose writes down to praise it.

  Hence † Curious v., nonce-wd. (intr.), to work curiously or artistically.

1606.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. (1641), 212/2. A great cornaline; Where some rare Artist (curiousing upon’t) Hath deeply cut Times triple-formed Front.