Hypertext Webster Gateway: "inquisitive"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Inquisitive \In*quis"i*tive\, a. [OE. inquisitif, F.
inquisitif.]
1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do
not concern the inquirer.

A wise man is not inquisitive about things
impertinent. --Broome.

2. Given to examination, investigation, or research;
searching; curious.

A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius. --I.
Watts.

Syn: Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive.

Usage: {Inquisitive}, {Curious}, {Prying}. Curious denotes a
feeling, and inquisitive a habit. We are curious when
we desire to learn something new; we are inquisitive
when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or
research. Prying implies inquisitiveness, and is more
commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire
to penetrate into the secrets of others.

[We] curious are to hear, What happens new.
--Milton.

This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy
work! Which not even critics criticise; that
holds Inquisitive attention, while I read.
--Cowper.

Nor need we with a prying eye survey The distant
skies, to find the Milky Way. --Creech.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Inquisitive \In*quis"i*tive\, n.
A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. --Sir
W. Temple.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

inquisitive
adj 1: showing curiosity; "if someone saw a man climbing a light
post they might get inquisitive"; "raised a
speculative eyebrow" [syn: {speculative}, {questioning},
{wondering(a)}]
2: inquiring or appearing to inquire; "an inquiring look"; "the
police are proverbially inquisitive"


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