curiosity Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a state in which you want to learn more about something
wonder.
noun something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting
oddment; oddity; rarity; peculiarity; curio.

OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosit, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Currious, and cf. Curio.

plural Curiosities

The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. Obs. Bacon.
When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. Shak.

A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity. Evelin.
Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness. Milton.
That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.
We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town. Addison.

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.