| 释义 |
curiosity|kjʊərɪˈɒsɪtɪ|
Forms: 4–5 cory-, curiouste, 5 curyouste(e, -oste, coriouste, curiowstee, (curyste); also 4–6 curiosite, 5 cury-, curiosite(e, -syte(e, -sytye, 6 curiositye, (kewriosyte), 6–7 curiositie, 6– -ty.
[a. OF. curioseté (AngloFr. curiouseté), ad. L. cūriōsitāt-em, f. cūriōs-us: see curious and -ty. Subsequently conformed more closely to the Latin, both in French as curiosité, and in Eng. as curiositie, -ity.]
I. As a personal attribute.
†1. Carefulness, the application of care or attention. Obs.
c1430Freemasonry 32 He that lernede best..And passud hys felows yn curyste. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 87 Cæs. Commentaries are to be read with all curiositie. a1619M. Fotherby Atheom. i. iv. §1 (1622) 20 They which haue marked, with very great curiositie, the memorable things of euery Countrie. 1747Gould Eng. Ants 56 A little Curiosity in Observation will easily remove so plain an Error.
†2. Careful attention to detail; scrupulousness; exactness, accuracy. Obs.
c1391Chaucer Astrol. ii. §14 heading, To knowe the degree of the sonne by thy riet, for a maner curiosite. 1559Scot in Strype Ann. Ref. I. App. x. 28 If they be..examyned againe and againe, this curiositie will never come to any end. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 9 Everie one will not suffer such curiositie as they require in y⊇ placing of a house. 1630Sanderson Serm. (1681) II. 281 The Curiosity that Men use in Weighing Gold or precious Quintessences for Medicine. 1694Acc. Sev. Late Voy. (1711) p. xxiii, To take the most exact account of all the Coasts..and to report them at their return with all possible Curiosity.
†3. Proficiency attained by careful application; skill, cleverness, ingenuity. Obs.
1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 353 Beside her incomparable beautie..adorned also with all that curiositie could devise. 1664Power Exp. Philos. i. 58 If our Dioptics could attain to that curiosity as to grind us such Glasses..we might hazard at last the discovery of Spiritualities themselves. 1676Shadwell Virtuoso 11, You will arrive at that curiosity in this watery science [swimming], that not a frog breathing will exceed you. 1742Leoni Palladio's Archit. I. 10 Sumptuous Buildings, which requir'd more Curiosity. 1760–72tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) I. iii. ii. 113 Many expert pilots, and other persons of curiosity who have employed their attention on it.
†4. Care or attention carried to excess or unduly bestowed upon matters of inferior moment.
a. Undue niceness or fastidiousness as to food, clothing, matters of taste and behaviour. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Pars. T. ⁋755 The ferthe is, curiosite [v.r. coriouste] with gret entent to make and apparayle his mete. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2148 Common clething als he vsed, All' curyouste he refused. c1510Barclay Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570) F j, Though I forbid thee proude curiositie Yet do I not counsell nor moue thee to rudenes. 1531Elyot Gov. iii. xxii, The curiositie and wanton appetite of Heliogabalus. 1601Cornwallyes Ess. ii. xxviii. (1631) 23 We of these latter times full of a nice curiosity, mislike all the performances of our fore-fathers. 1672Cave Prim. Chr. ii. iv. (1673) 68 A vicious curiosity about meats and drinks. 1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. (ed. 4) I. ii. 59 In affairs of this kind, it is but just to allow to women a degree of curiosity and care.
†b. Unduly minute or subtle treatment; nicety, subtlety. Obs.
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. iv. §6 (1873) 32 This same unprofitable subtility or curiosity is of two sorts. 1620Markham Farew. Husb. ii. xix. (1668) 103 Besides many other Seeds, which would..shew but too much curiosity to repeat. 1680Burnet Rochester (1692) 106 The opposition of Hereticks anciently occasioned too much Curiosity among the fathers.
5. Desire to know or learn:
†a. In a blamable sense: The disposition to inquire too minutely into anything; undue or inquisitive desire to know or learn. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 227 Bi þis answere moun we se how curiouste of science or unskilful coveitise of cunnynge, is to dampne. 1388― Num. iv. 20 Othere men se not bi ony curiouste tho thingis that ben in the seyntuarie..ellis thei schulen die. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 That ye neuer by way of curiosite be besy to attempte ony persone therin. 1604Hieron Wks. I. 488 It is curiositie to enquire into that which God hath concealed. 1675Brooks Gold. Key Wks. 1867 V. 142 Curiosity is the spiritual adultery of the soul. Curiosity is spiritual drunkenness. 1756Burke Vind. Nat. Soc. Wks. 1842 I. 5 You feared, that the curiosity of this search might endanger the ruin of the whole fabrick.
b. In a neutral or good sense: The desire or inclination to know or learn about anything, esp. what is novel or strange; a feeling of interest leading one to inquire about anything.
1613Salkeld Treat. Angels 43 But peradventure some may with..just curiositie demaund, how then shall wee know. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 12 A noble and solid curiosity of knowing things in their beginnings. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. (1843) 44/2 There was so little curiosity..in the country to know any thing of Scotland..that, etc. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 382 In curiosity I put some of the wood into my mouth and chewed it. 1707Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 337 A Plant, which he resuscitated in the presence of any, whose Curiosities brought them to see it. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 253 He had perhaps at first raised this curiosity in me. 1853C. Brontë Villette xiv, Your curiosity is roused at last. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 393 Nor had you any curiosity to know other states or their laws.
c. Inquisitiveness in reference to trifles or matters which do not concern one.
1577J. Northbrooke Dicing (1843) 95 What was the cause why Dina was rauished? was it not hir curiositie? 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 134 Curiositie, which I take to be a desire to know the faults and imperfections in other men. 1836Hor. Smith Tin Trump. (1876) 113 Curiosity—looking over other people's affairs and overlooking our own. 1887T. Fowler Princ. Morals ii. i. 44 Curiosity..is usually employed to denote the habit of inquisitiveness as to trifles, and especially as to the private affairs of one's neighbours.
†6. Scientific or artistic interest; the quality of a curioso or virtuoso; connoisseurship. Obs.
1661Evelyn Diary (1827) II. 175, I dined at Mr. Palmer's in Gray's Inn, whose curiosity excell'd in clocks. 1694Molesworth Acct. Sweden 47 This..qualifies them more for a Life of Labour and Fatigue, than of Art and Curiosity. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Addison Wks. III. 73 Mr. Locker..was eminent for curiosity and literature.
†7. A pursuit in which any one takes an interest, or for which he has a fancy; a hobby. Obs.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. v, Had their curiosities been sedentary. 1653Walton Angler Ep. Ded. 4 This pleasant curiositie of Fish and Fishing..has been thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in other Nations. a1661Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 487 Fertilizing of barren ground may be termed a charitable curiosity employing many poor people therein.
†8. A desire to make trial or experience of anything novel; trifling interest or desire; a fancy, a whim. Obs.
1605Jas. I Gunp. Plot in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 13 [Parliament] is no place for particular men to utter there their private conceipts, nor for satisfaction of their curiosities. 1663Flagellum; or O. Cromwell (ed. 2) 7 He was placed in Sydney Colledge, more to satisfie his Fathers curiosity and desire, than out of any hopes of Completing him in his Studies. 1672Cave Prim. Chr. i. x. (1673) 295 A curiosity in many in those times of being baptized in Jordan. a1718Penn Tracts Wks. 1726 I. 499 He wholly denied his Wife the Curiosity of changing of but one Piece of foreign Gold.
II. As a quality of things.
†9. Careful or elaborate workmanship; perfection of construction; elaborateness, elegance; artistic character. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 8 Ȝif þei drawen þe peple in þe holiday by coryouste of gaye wyndownes. 1393Gower Conf. III. 383, I..axe..that my boke be nought refused..For lack of curiosite. 1483Caxton Gold. Leg. 72/3 To wryte the curiosyte and werke of the temple..passeth my connynge to expresse. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xxvii. lviii, Betrapped fayre and gaye Wyth shyning trappers of curiositie. 1584Burghley Let. in Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. v. §9 An instrument of 24 Articles of great length and curiosity, formed in a Romish stile. 1665Hooke Microgr. 163 You can hardly look on the scales of any Fish, but you may discover abundance of curiosity and beautifying. 1673Lady's Call. i. v. ⁋53. 49 Because they are loth..to abate any thing of the curiosity of their dress. 1697Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. (1709) 90 The Regularity of Motion, visible in the great variety and Curiosity of Bodies.
†10. Careful accuracy of construction; nicety, delicacy. Obs.
1593T. Fale Dialling A iij, The making of the Horologicall Cylindre, and the Ring..we have presently omitted, partly for their curiosity in cutting and delineation. 1662Evelyn Chalcog. Pref. (1769) 35 This art..is arrived to the utmost curiosity and accurateness. 1664Power Exp. Philos. iii. 170 How many ticklish Curiosities, and nice Circumstances there are to perform this Experiment exactly. 1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 21 The chiefest Curiosity in the making..Hinges is, 1. That the Pin-hole be exactly round..2. That the Joints are let exactly into one another. 1807Southey Espriella's Lett. I. 154 An idea of the curiosity with which these things are constructed.
11. The quality of being curious or interesting from novelty or strangeness; curiousness.
1597Morley Introd. Mus. 105 This I thought good to shew you, not for anie curiositie which is in it, but [etc.]. 1660Sharrock Vegetables Ep. Ded., The operations themselves..are devoid of curiosity. 1686R. Berkeley in Evelyn's Mem. (1857) III. 283 From thence we went the next day to Rotterdam, where the curiosity of the place detained us three days. 1774T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. App. 124 The distance between these, and the instructions actually adopted, is of some curiosity. 1858Hawthorne Fr. & It. Jrnls. II. 96 The curiosity of which was overlaid by their multitude.
III. A matter or thing that has this quality.
†12. A curious question or matter of investigation; a nicety of argument; a subtlety. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 6 Ȝif þei..traveilen not in holy writt but veyn pleies and corioustees. 1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 152 Their subtilties and bold curiosities, who have sought to plucke..out of heaven the secrets hid from the angels. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xiii. (1611) 206 These nice curiosities are not worthie the labour which wee bestow to answere them. a1631Donne Serm. 367 Troubling the peace of the Church, with impertinent and inextricable curiosities. 1641Milton Ch. Govt. ii. (1851) 145 Not to make verbal curiosities the end. 1678Owen Mind of God v. 144 A wrangling science filled with niceties, subtilties, curiosities, futilous termes of Art. 1700J. A. Astry tr. Saavedra-Faxardo I. 198 The Books which contain'd idle Curiosities were burnt.
†b. A curious or ingenious art, experiment, etc.
1605Camden Rem. (1637) 243 Divers curious men..by the falling of a ring Magically prepared..judged that one Theodorus should succeede in the Empire..By like curiosities it was found that Odo should succeede. 1626Bacon Sylva §431 There hath been practised also a curiosity, to set a Tree upon the North side of a Wall [etc.]. a1635Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 36 They note him to have had certain curiosities, and secret wayes of intelligence above the rest.
†13. A matter upon which undue care is bestowed; a vanity, nicety, refinement. Obs
c1400Apol. Loll. 108 Þat he wast himsilf and his goodis, and oþer mennis, in lustis, and in oþer veyn curiositeis. 1474Caxton Chesse iv. iii. (1860) K v b, Therfore ought the good women fle the curiositees and places where they myght falle in blame. a1536Tindale Wks. 238 (R) Y⊇ greater nomber receaue the wordes for a newnesse and curiositie (as they say). 1617Moryson Itin. iii. i. ii. 35 This fashion, and the like curiosities, I would haue an Englishman to leaue when he returns out of Italy. 1643J. Burroughes Exp. Hosea ii. (1652) 180 When we are in danger to be stripped of all, it is not time then to stand about curiosities and niceties. 1705Stanhope Paraphr. I. 97 Useless Curiosities, and such as tend to adorn, but not at all to amend the Man.
†14. A curious detail, feature, or trait. Obs.
1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. xii. (1712) 79 The Eye..is so exquisitely framed..that not the least curiosity can be added. 1665Hooke Microgr. 47 Moscovy-glass, or Lapis speculans, is a Body that seems to have as many Curiosities in its Fabrick as any common Mineral I have met with. 1747Gould Eng. Ants 17 Pliny informs us that the Ants of his Country are wont to bury their Dead, which is a Curiosity not imitated by ours in England.
15. An object of interest; any object valued as curious, rare, or strange.
c1645Howell Lett. i. i. xviii, Amongst other Curiosities which he pleased to shew me up and down Paris. 1664Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 201 The Narcissus of Japan..that nice Curiosity. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. (1845) 361 heading, Upon the sight of a Branch of Corral among a great Prince's Collection of Curiosities. 1710Hearne Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) III. 39 These Pyxides or Boxes are mention'd as great curiosities. 1770T. S. Kuckahn in Phil. Trans. LX. 302 Collecting natural curiosities of the insect, bird, and beast kinds. 1869R. Semmes Advent. Afloat ii. 695 The cargo, consisting mostly of light Japanese goods, lacker-ware, and curiosities.
†b. collect. = Curious things. Obs.
1786W. Gilpin Obs. Pict. Beauty I. p. xxii, The bowels of the earth, containing such amazing stores of curiosity.
c. Applied to a person who is ‘queer’ in his appearance, habits, etc.; cf. oddity.
1873Slang Dict., Cure, an odd person; a contemptuous term, abridged from curiosity, which was formerly the favourite expression.
16. Comb., as curiosity-dealer, curiosity-monger; curiosity-shop, a shop where curiosities are bought and sold.
1789Wolcott (P. Pindar) Subj. for Painters Wks. 1812 II. 182 Made frequent Curiosity-campaigns. 1818Hazlitt Eng. Poets v. (1870) 128 A museum or curiosity-shop. 1840Dickens (title), Old Curiosity Shop. Ibid. i, The curiosity-dealer's warehouse. 1860All Year Round No. 74. 569 One—a notable curiosity-monger. |