Etymology

curiosity

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Today it means: Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring. Full definition →

First used 17th c.Middle English curiosite ← Anglo-Norman curiouseté ← Latin cūriōsitātem
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromcūriōsitātem
  2. Anglo-Norman · derived fromcuriouseté
  3. Middle English · inherited fromcuriosite
  4. English todaycuriosity

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.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.
  • from 17th c. A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.
  • 16th–19th c. Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.