[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. The quality or condition of being subjectively curious: † a. Carefulness; diligence; skilfulness; scrupulosity; fastidiousness. Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxix. 31. Of þe coriousness of þat karle þer is carping.
1528. Tindale, Parab. Wicked Mammon, Wks. I. 58. Be diligent therefore that thou be not deceived with curiousness.
1555. Eden, Decades, 136. Not theyr ignoraunce and slothfulnes but pernicious curiousnes.
1561. T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, I. E iij b. To reprehend hys curyousnesse in hys workes.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., VI. 1937. They dresse Their bodies, with such tedious curiousnesse.
1692. Dryden, St. Evremont’s Ess., 35. He joined the Curiousness of Negotiations to the Science of War.
a. 1698. Temple, Ess. Gardening, Wks. 1731, I. 177. Much Curiousness or Care, to introduce the Fruits of Foreign Climates.
b. Inquisitiveness: often as a fault; = CURIOSITY 5.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 302. Ye curiousnesse of men … which can by no stoppes be restrained from wandring into forbidden compasses.
a. 1640. Sir W. Alexander, Hours, I. lxii. (T.). Ah! curiousness, first cause of all our ill.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xx. We had all a little more curiousness than you had.
1859. Tennyson, Vivien, 362. Howsoe’er In children a great curiousness be well, Who have to learn themselves and all the world.
1866. J. H. Newman, Gerontius, iii. I fain would know … were it but meet to ask, And not a curiousness.
2. The quality of being objectively curious: † a. Beauty; elaborateness; exquisiteness. b. Strangeness, novelty, oddness.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 372 (Harl.). In greet preciousnes of vessel & in curiousnesse of vessel and of mynstralcye.
1550. Latimer, Last. Serm. bef. Edw. VI., Wks. I. 222. In this sermon of Jonas is no great curiousness, no great clerkliness.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, II. i. (1660), 50. The curiousness and excellency of their workmanship.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 193. The unutterable curiousness of its [the world’s] frame and workmanship.
1862. Parthenon, 26 July, 401. The bindings … are remarkable both for their curiousness, beauty, and fine preservation.
1874. Helps, Soc. Press., iii. 35. No other motive for collecting but the appreciation of rarity and curiousness.
