Cu′ri‐os″i‐ty (kū′rĭ‐ŏs″ĭ‐ty̆), n.; pl.Curiosities (–tĭz). [OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosité, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Curious, and cf. Curio.] 1. The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. Bacon.
When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity.
Shak.
A screen accurately cut in tapiary work... with great curiosity.
Evelin.
2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness. Milton.
3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.
We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town.
Addison.
There hath been practiced also a curiosity, to set a tree upon the north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the wall, etc.
Bacon.