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Definitions for: Inquisitive [adj] showing curiosity; "if someone saw a man climbing a light post they might get inquisitive"; "raised a speculative eyebrow"
[adj] inquiring or appearing to inquire; "an inquiring look"; "the police are proverbially inquisitive"
Webster (1913) Definition: 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.
In*quis"i*tive, n.
A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. --Sir
W. Temple.
Synonyms: curious, inquiring, questioning, speculative, wondering(a)
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