curiosity

Pronunciation: /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a state in which you want to learn more about something
  2. noun something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting

Etymology

From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās. By surface analysis, curious + -ity. Displaced native Old English firwitt.

In classic literature

Synonyms

wonder

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
cognitive state
Narrower (hyponyms)
desire to know, interest, curiousness

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