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inquisitive - 5 dictionary results

in⋅quis⋅i⋅tive

  [in-kwiz-i-tiv]
Use inquisitive in a Sentence
–adjective
1. given to inquiry, research, or asking questions; eager for knowledge; intellectually curious: an inquisitive mind.
2. unduly or inappropriately curious; prying.
–noun
3. an inquisitive person: thick curtains to frustrate inquisitives.
Origin:
1350–1400; < LL inquīsītīvus, equiv. to L inquīsīt(us) (see inquisition ) + -īvus -ive; r. ME inquisitif < MF < LL, as above

Related forms:
in⋅quis⋅i⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
in⋅quis⋅i⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. See curious.

Antonyms:
1, 2. uninterested.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To inquisitive
in·quis·i·tive   (ĭn-kwĭz'ĭ-tĭv)   
adj.  
  1. Inclined to investigate; eager for knowledge.
  2. Unduly curious and inquiring. See Synonyms at curious.

[Middle English inquisitif, from Old French, from Late Latin inquīsītīvus, from Latin inquīsītus, past participle of inquīrere, to inquire; see inquire.]
in·quis'i·tive·ly adv., in·quis'i·tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

Inquisitive

In*quis"i*tive\, n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. --Sir W. Temple.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : inquisitive
Spanish: curioso, preguntón,
German: neugierig,
Japanese: せんさく好きな
More Translations »

inquisitive 
c.1386, from O.Fr. inquisitif, from L.L. inquisitivus "making inquiry," from L. inquisitus, pp. of inquirere (see inquire).
"An housbonde shal nat been Inquisityf of goddes pryuetee nor of his wyf." [Chaucer, "Miller's Prologue"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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