Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Inquisitive

In-quis′i-tive

,
Adj.
[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.
Syn. – 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.
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

,
Noun.
A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.
Sir W. Temple.

Webster 1828 Edition

Inquisitive

INQUIS'ITIVE

,
Adj.
s as z. Apt to ask questions; addicted to inquiry; inclined to seek information by questions; followed by about or after. He was very inquisitive about or after news. Children are usually inquisitive.
1.
Inclined to seek knowledge by discussion, investigation or observation; given to research. He possesses an inquisitive mind or disposition. We live in an inquisitive age.

INQUIS'ITIVE

,
Noun.
A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.

Definition 2024

inquisitive

inquisitive

English

Adjective

inquisitive ‎(comparative more inquisitive, superlative most inquisitive)

  1. Eager to acquire knowledge.
    • I. Watts
      A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius.
  2. Too curious; overly interested; nosy.
    • Broome
      A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent.
    • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Episode 16
      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?

Derived terms

Translations

French

Adjective

inquisitive

  1. feminine singular of inquisitif

Italian

Adjective

inquisitive

  1. feminine plural of inquisitivo

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪŋˈkwɪzətɪv/

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