Inquisitiveness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inquisitiveness \In*quis"i*tive*ness\, n.
     The quality or state of being inquisitive; the disposition to
     seek explanation and information; curiosity to learn what is
     unknown; esp., uncontrolled and impertinent curiosity.
     [1913 Webster]
  


           Mr. Boswell, whose inquisitiveness is seconded by great
           activity, scrambled in at a high window. --Johnson.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Curiosity in children nature has provided, to remove
           that ignorance they were born with; which, without this
           busy inquisitiveness, will make them dull. --Locke.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  inquisitiveness
       n : a state of active curiosity [syn: {curiousness}]