inquisitive

English

Etymology

Late 14th century, from Old French inquisitif, from Late Latin inquisitivus, from Latin inquisitus, past participle of inquirere. See also inquire.

Pronunciation

enPR: ĭngkwĭz'ətĭv, IPA^(key): /ɪŋˈkwɪzətɪv/
Audio (Southern England): (file)

Adjective

inquisitive (comparative more inquisitive, superlative most inquisitive)

Eager to acquire knowledge; acquisitive.
- 1741, I Watts, “Of living Instructions and Lectures, of Teachers and Learners”, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: , London: James Brackstone, , →OCLC, paragraph III, page 100:
  […] a young, inquiſitive and ſprightly Genius; […]
Too curious; overly interested; nosy.
- 1725, Homer, “Book XI”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. , volume III, London: Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, footnote, page 75:
  A wiſe man is not inquiſitive about things impertinent; […]
- 1890, Jacob A Riis, “A Raid on the Stale-beer Dives”, in How the Other Half Lives: Studies among the Tenements of New York, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 77:
  Huddled together in loathsome files, they squat there over night, or until an inquisitive policeman breaks up the congregation with his club, which in Mulberry Street has always free swing.
- 1892, A Conan Doyle, “[Beyond the City] The New-comers”, in The Great Shadow and Beyond the City, Bristol: J. W. Arrowsmith, ; London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., →OCLC, page 157:
  No, no, Bertha; we must not give them reason to say that their neighbours are inquisitive.
- 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, , →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 575:
  ― Everybody gets their own ration of luck, they say. Now you mention it his face was familiar to me. But leaving that for the moment, how much did you part with, he queried, if I am not too inquisitive?