curiousness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkjʊəɹi.əsnəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree English curious Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English curiousness From curious + -ness.
Meanings
- (uncountable, usually) Curiosity; inquisitiveness.
- (dated, uncountable, usually) The state of being curious; exactness of workmanship; ingenuity of contrivance.
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(obsolete, uncountable, usually) Care; carefulness; pains.
[M]y father's care / With curiousness and cost, did train me up / In all those liberal qualities that commend / A gentleman: […]
1624 November 3 (first performance), Philip Massinger, “The Parliament of Love”, in W[illiam] Gifford, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, […], volume II, London: […] G[eorge] and W[illiam] Nicol; […] by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co. […], published 1805, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 309:
- (countable, usually) The product or result of being curious.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| curiousnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |