| 释义 |
curious, a.|ˈkjʊərɪəs|
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.
a. Bestowing care or pains; careful; studious, attentive. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Shipman's T. 243 My deere wif, I the byseeke..For to kepe oure good be curious. 1494Fabyan 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. c1500Melusine 109 Melusyne was full curyous and besy to make al thinges redy. 1580Sidney Arcadia v. 457 But the curious servant of Philanax forbade him the entry. 1650Jer. Taylor Holy Living i. §1 He that is curious of his time, will not easily be unready and unfurnished. 1721R. Bradley Wks. Nat. 20 The French Gardeners..are..very curious to observe, that no broken part of a mushroom be left. 1779–81Johnson L.P., Cowley Wks. II. 38 They were not always strictly curious, whether the opinions..were true.
†b. Anxious, concerned, solicitous. Obs.
c1400Rom. Rose 1052 Many a traitour envious, That ben ful busie and curious For to dispraise, and to blame. 1513More in Grafton Chron. II. 783 Amongest them that were more amorous of her bodie, then curious of her soule. 1611Shakes. Cymb. i. vi. 191 And I am something curious..To haue them in safe stowage. a1697Strathspey Let. 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.
c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 205 Take meete and drinke in mesure, ne to costli ne to licorouse, and be not to corious þeraboute. 1489Caxton Faytes of A. i. vii. 17 Not curyous of mygnotes, folyetes ne of iewellis. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 118 Be not curious to curle thy haire. a1592H. Smith Serm. (1866) II. 329 Christ was not curious in his diet. 1605Camden Rem. (1637) 285 There was one that was very curious in keeping of his beard. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. II. 45 They soon became..curious in their diet and apparel. 1821Scott Kenilw. iii, In arranging which [the hair] men at that time..were very nice and curious.
†b. generally. Particular; cautious. Obs.
a1533Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) H ii, Wise among wyse men, as it is couenable for a curiouse prynce to be. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iv. 36 For curious I cannot be with you, Signior Baptista. 1617Moryson Itin. i. iii. iii. 252 The Italians, in regard of their clime, are very curious to receive strangers in a time of plague. 1662Gerbier Princ. 15 Builders ought also to be very curious and carefull in the choice of the place to Build a Seat on. 1692Locke Educ. §92 In this Choice be as curious, as you would be in that of a Wife for him. 1772Burke 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.
1570B. Googe Pop. Kingd. Ded. Q. Eliz., Wherein I haue the lesse beene curious, bycause it was chiefly made for the benifite of the common and simpler sorte. 1655W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. ii. 243 What is the Gospel of all this? but that God is very curious in his worship. 1697W. Dampier Voy. (1698) I. A iij b, I have not been curious as to the spelling of the Names of Places, Plants, Fruits, Animals. 1743Lond. & Country Brew. 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.
a. Careful or nice in observation or investigation, accurate. Obs.
1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xxi. 137 Having in his whole voyage, though a curious searcher after the time, lost one day. 1764Harmer Observ. xxi. xi. 88 Ascertained by some curious and accurate person. 1816Singer Hist. Cards i. 10 It is to be desired that some curious orientalist may think the subject worthy an attentive enquiry.
b. Said of the eye, ear, etc.
1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iv. 31 What curious eye doth quote deformities? 1684R. H. School of Recreation 9 The little Beagle..is of exceeding Cunning, and curious Scent in Hunting. 1699Bentley Phal. 208 The difference..is very small, and such as might escape even a curious Eye in so dim an Inscription. a1713T. Ellwood Autobiog. (1714) 135 Having a curious Ear, he understood by my Tone, when I understood what I read.
†4. Ingenious, skilful, clever, expert. Obs.
1375Barbour Bruce x. 359 A crafty man and a curiouss. c1400Destr. Troy 11677 A tre, But no clerke is so corious to ken vs the nome. 1582T. Watson Cent. Loue Ep. Ded., The curious pensill of Apelles. 1651Fuller Abel Rediv., Junius (1867) II. 185 A curious limner was employed to draw his picture to the life. 1715J. Richardson Th. Painting 28 A curious Mechanick's Hand must be exquisite. 1762–71H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) III. 252 That neat and curious painter Vander Heyden.
5. a. 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.)
a1340Hampole Psalter cxxxvi. 3 Þei are curiouse & wold witt þat þei are nouȝt worthi till. 1375Barbour Bruce iv. 687 Bot feill folk ar sa curiouss, And to wit thingis covatouss. c1384Chaucer H. Fame i. 29 That somme man is to curiouse In studye. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 18 b, How no persone sholde be curyous in askyng questyons concernynge the secretes of god. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xliv. 172 He was a man very curious, and much inclined to hear of novelties, and rare things. 1754Richardson Grandison (1781) I. xiii. 72 Those branches of science which..serve for amusement to inquisitive and curious minds. 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm x. 116 Two or three neighbours..were curious to know what he had seen abroad. 1873Hale In His Name vi. 64 Crowded with curious idlers.
†b. Minute in inquiry or discrimination, subtle.
a1585Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 116 The quiddities of too curious schoolmen.
†c. Devoting attention to occult art. Obs.
1549Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Eph. Argt., That Citie was full of Curiouse menne, and suche as were geuen to magicall artes. 1578Timme Caluine on Gen. 35 Certaine courious persons abuse this place to colour their vaine prognostications. 1614Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 137 Curious men, that consulte with starres, and spirits, for their destinies.
d. Of actions, etc.: Prompted by curiosity.
1840Dickens 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. 1876Blackie Songs Relig. & Life 191 Live, and make no curious comment.
†6.
a. Taking the interest of a connoisseur in any branch of art; skilled as a connoisseur or virtuoso. Const. of, in and inf. Obs.
1577B. 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. 1644Evelyn 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. 1693― De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 24 Gentlemen that are Curious in Gard'ning. 1734tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. xvii. §8. 238 He was exceedingly curious in pictures and designs by great masters. 1751Johnson 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. 1792Copper-Plate Mag. No. 6 The bishop's family being curious botanists.
b. In this sense often absolutely in pl.
1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 115 Her Caravans lodge exceeds her Mosque, yet neither, of power to beget admiration with the curious. 1708J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. iii. ii. (1743) 158 There are several Specimens yet remaining in the Cabinets of the Curious. 1768W. 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. 1838–9Hallam 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.
a. Made with care or art; skilfully, elaborately or beautifully wrought. Obs.
c1384Chaucer H. Fame i. 125 Moo curiouse portreytures..then I sawgh euer. a1400Morte Arth. 61 Thare a citee he sette..with curious walles. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7848 A bischop staff was preciouse, And in makyng full curiouse. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 54 Doth not experience teach vs, that in the most curious Sepulcher are enclosed rotten bones? 1611Bible Ex. xxviii. 27 The curious girdle of the Ephod. 1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. ix. (1712) 67 Made themselves such curious and safe Nests in Bushes and Trees. 1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 21 If your Work be intended to be curious, the true Square-filing the Upper-side..is a great Ornament. 1760–72tr. 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.
c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 1353 In þe clernes of his concubines & curious wedez. c1394P. Pl. Crede 765 And comeren her stomakes With curiuse drynkes. 1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy) p. lxvi, I aske no palace nor lodging curious. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. v. 53 His Viands sparkling in a Golden Cup, His bodie couched in a curious bed. 1615J. Stephens Satyr. Ess. A vij b, The inviter..cannot well provide..One dish so curious, as may please each tast. 1702C. Mather Magn. Chr. iii. i. i. (1852) 276 He made a careful, though not curious, diet serve him. 1865Swinburne Poems & Ball., Leper 6, I served her wine and curious meat.
†8. Carefully worked out or prepared; elaborate. Obs.
1561T. Norton Calvin's Inst. ii. 145 Y⊇ obiections are not so strong that they nede a curious confutation. 1573G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 44 Not to look after ani set or curious epistle. 1614Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 839 Persecuted with most curious torments. 1674Brevint Saul at Endor 363 Served with the curiousest Music.
9. Of actions, investigations, etc.: Characterized by special care, careful, accurate, minute.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 142 b, Stones quadrat or squared, polysshed & dressed after the moost curyous maner. a1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) G viii b, He made curious diligence to searche out all the players. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 168 It did not sufficiently appear..without a more curious examination. 1667Observ. Burning London in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 446 A more curious and earnest inquiry of the truth. 1859Disraeli Sp. in Times 22 July, A subject, which demands the most curious investigation. 1866Argyll 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.
c1340Hampole Prose Tr. (1866) 3 The name of Ihesu..dos a-waye coryous and vayne ocupacyons fra vs. 1535Coverdale Job xxxv. 15 Nether hath he pleasure in curious and depe inquisicions. 1577T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 16 We must abstaine from y⊇ curious searching of Gods maiestie. 1654Fuller Two Serm. 63 [This question] is curious for man to enquire and impossible to determine. 1742Young Nt. Th. ix. 1853 'Tis not the curious, but the pious path, That leads me to my point.
†b. Intricate, abstruse, subtle. Obs.
c1391Chaucer Astrol. Prol. 2 That curio[u]s enditing & hard sentence is ful heuy atones for swich a child to lerne. 1538Starkey England i. iv. 137 The maner of syngyng..was not so curyouse as hyt ys now. 1563Fulke Meteors (1640) 70 b, A Mathematicall reason..more curious, than can be understood of the common sort. 1613J. Salkeld Treat. Angels 335 Amongst other very curious questions which Theodoretus upon Genesis propoundeth, one is this. 1664Power Exp. Philos. Pref. 10 In these narrow Engines [microscopic animals] there is more curious Mathematics.
†c. Recondite, occult. Obs.
1382Wyclif Acts xix. 19 Manye of hem that sueden curiouse thingis brouȝten to gidere bookis, and brennyden hem bifore alle men. c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 392 As yonge clerkes that been lykerous To reden Artes that been curious..a book he say Of Magyk natureel. 1611Bible Acts xix. 19. 1619 Sir A. Gorges tr. Bacon's De Sap. Vet. 95 Unlawfull and curious arts of what kind soever.
†11. Minutely accurate, exact, precise. Obs.
1614Selden Titles Hon. ii. i. §43 Your curious learning and judgment may correct where I have erred. 1665Hooke Microgr. 2 The Points of the most curious Mathematical Instruments. 1672Petty Pol. Anat. Pref., Curious Dissections cannot be made without variety of proper Instruments. 1764Dunn in Phil. Trans. LIV. 115, I set my watch exactly by the clocks; captain Bentincke and captain Holland were present with curious watches. 1825Carlyle Schiller ii. (1845) 57 Formed upon a strict and curious standard.
†12. Of materials: Fine, delicate. Obs.
1665Hooke 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. 1669A. 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.)
1681J. Chetham Angler's Vade-m. Pref., It is not fine, curious, and skilful Angling, that destroys the breed of Fish. a1687Petty Pol. Arith. i. (1691) 33 As Trades and curious Arts increase; so the Trade of Husbandry will decrease. 1776Adam 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, flavour, or other good quality). Obs. or dial. (Cf. mod. use of nice.)
c1420Avow. Arth. lii, Maydyns..curtase and curiowse Forsothe in bed lay. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 17 He gat on hir ane sone callit Fergus, In all this warld wes nane mair curious. 1638Sir 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. 1665Pepys Diary 24 Sept., A very calm, curious morning. 1667Primatt City & C. Build. 10 Salisbury Plain, and divers other places of champion ground in England, which are very famous for curious air. 1697W. Dampier Voy. (1698) I. xv. 436 We filled all our Water at a curious Brook close by us. 1725Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Vinegar, In about thirty or forty Days it will be curious Vinegar. 1742Phil. Trans. XLII. 148 (In Suffolk) She said..if her Butter was not curious, she eat dry Bread. 1816J. Pickering Voc. 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.
1682Burnet Rights Princes iv. 135 The curiousest Remains of former Ages that are extant. 1759Sir J. Reynolds Idler No. 76 ⁋5 It is curious to observe, that, etc. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. §56 [It] would have been not only curious, but useful, had it been handed down to us. 1816Keatinge 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. a. Deserving or exciting attention on account of its novelty or peculiarity; exciting curiosity; somewhat surprising, strange, singular, odd; queer. (The ordinary current objective sense.)
1715J. Richardson Th. Painting 100 This is very Particular, and Curious. 1719― Sc. Connoisseur 204 What is Rare, and Curious without any Other consideration we Naturally take Pleasure in. 1769Burke Observ. Late State Nation Wks. 1842 I. 101 A most curious reason, truly! 1807Crabbe Par. Reg. iii. 509 No curious shell, rare plant, or brilliant spar, Inticed our traveller. 1869Dilke Greater Brit. II. 163 Seated in the piazza..I had before me a curious scene. 1888Bryce Amer. Commw. III. xc. 251, I give here a few of the novel or curious provisions of the Constitution of California of 1789.
b. Used as a euphemistic description of erotic or pornographic works.
1877‘Pisanus Fraxi’ (title) Index librorum prohibitorum: being notes bio-biblio-icono-graphical and critical, on curious and uncommon books. 1925A. Huxley Those Barren Leaves i. v. 55 The publications of the Purity League figure invariably under the heading ‘Curious’ in the booksellers’ catalogues. 1934H. G. Wells Exper. Autobiogr. II. viii. 529 That redoubtable suppressed Life and Loves of his..which is sought after by collectors of ‘curious’ books. 1947[see curiosa]. 1970I. Montagu Youngest Son 240 My voracious approach to literature included the pages in the bookseller's catalogue labelled ‘Erotica’ or ‘Curious’, and I have yet to see an atom of evidence that pornography ever did anyone any harm.
c. Phr. curiouser and curiouser, more and more curious; increasingly strange.
1865‘L. Carroll’ Alice in Wonderland ii. 15 ‘Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). 1931D. L. Sayers Five Red Herrings xv. 167 ‘I formed the opinion..that Mr. Gowan had..not departed from Kirkcudbright on the Monday evening..but that he had remained concealed in his own house.’.. ‘Curiouser and curiouser,’ said Wimsey. 1939M. Allingham Mr. Campion & Others i. ix. 203 ‘Perhaps it wasn't empty then?’ ‘In that case it's curiouser and curiouser.’ 1970Guardian 31 Dec. 8/1 The ways of film companies become curiouser and curiouser.
†17. Such as interests the curioso or connoisseur. Obs.
1665Boyle Occas. Refl. (1669) 359 The number of fine things that make up this curious collection. 1719J. Richardson Sc. Connoisseur 45 Pictures, Drawings, Prints, Statues, Intaglias, and the like Curious Works of Art. 1731–7Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Iris, They are generally banish'd from very curious Gardens, and are proper only for large Gardens. 1768W. Gilpin Ess. Prints 145 In curious collections we meet with a few of Cuyps etchings.
III. †18. quasi-adv. Curiously. Obs.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1300 This is too curious-good, this blunt and ill. a1644Quarles 11 Pious Medit. (1717) 64 They were not wise enough, and yet too wise; Too curious wise. 1687Congreve Old Batch. iv. xvii, 'Tis most curious fine weather. 1791Cowper Odyss. xxi. 460 Within the hall, let none look curious forth. 1834J. H. Newman Lett. (1891) II. 39 Curious enough, Rose writes down to praise it.
Hence † ˈcurious v. (intr.), nonce-wd. to work curiously or artistically.
1606Sylvester 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. |