INQUISITIVE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Inquisitive

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/ɪnkwˈɪzɪtɪv/ Listen

adjective

Inquisitive adj.

Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer. "A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent."

Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious. "A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius."

Synonyms: Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive. 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." "This folio of four pages (a newspaper), happy work! Which not even critics criticise; that holds Inquisitive attention, while I read." "Nor need we with a prying eye survey The distant skies, to find the Milky Way."

noun

Inquisitive n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.

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Etymology of 'Inquisitive'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Inquisitive" Quotes from Famous Books

... topics, our conversation naturally turned to the past; and I began to be inquisitive about the legends of the place. I knew there was a local tradition as to the origin of the name Gebel Silsilis—the Mountain of the Chain—passed over usually with supercilious contempt in guide-books; and I desired much to hear the details. Ismaeen at first ...

— Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 462 - Volume 18, New Series, November 6, 1852 • Various

... accompanied the ceremony with a little flap of the coat tails, and all the while did not shift his round, inquisitive eyes ...

— The Short Cut • Jackson Gregory

... the strongest reluctance to pronounce his own name, while at the same time he makes no objection at all to other people pronouncing it, and will even invite them to do so for him in order to satisfy the curiosity of an inquisitive stranger. Thus in some parts of Madagascar it is taboo for a person to tell his own name, but a slave or attendant will answer for him. The same curious inconsistency, as it may seem to us, is recorded ...

— The Golden Bough - A study of magic and religion • Sir James George Frazer

... obtaining entrance. But a glance at their faces satisfied me, though I could hardly say why, that none of these was the person who had spoken to me. Their countenances seemed all composed to attention to the sermon, and not one of them returned any glance of intelligence to the inquisitive and startled look with which I surveyed them. A massive round pillar, which was close behind us, might have concealed the speaker the instant he uttered his mysterious caution; but wherefore it was given in such a place, or to what species of danger it directed my attention, ...

— Rob Roy, Complete, Illustrated • Sir Walter Scott

... of mine, a delightful old lady, fresh, genial, and inquisitive, has in her possession an old volume, a family heir-loom, which is not the less dear to her for being somewhat dingy and dilapidated, and touching which she would gladly receive such information ...

— Notes and Queries 1850.04.06 • Various

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