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. — 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.
curious are to hear,
What happens new. Milton.
This folio of four pages, 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.