Part 5888

<blockquote>A wise man is not <b>inquisitive</b> about things impertinent. <i>Broome.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious.</def>

<blockquote>A young, <b>inquisitive</b>, and sprightly genius. <i>I. Watts.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive.</syn> <usage> -- <er>Inquisitive</er>, <er>Curious</er>, <er>Prying</er>. <i>Curious</i> denotes a feeling, and <i>inquisitive</i> a habit. We are <i>curious</i> when we desire to learn something new; we are <i>inquisitive</i> when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or research. <i>Prying</i> implies <i>inquisitiveness</i>, and is more commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire to penetrate into the secrets of others.</usage>

<blockquote> <b>curious</b> are to hear, What happens new. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy work! Which not even critics criticise; that holds <b>Inquisitive</b> attention, while I read. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Nor need we with a <b>prying</b> eye survey The distant skies, to find the Milky Way. <i>Creech.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Inquisitive</h1> <Xpage=767>

<hw>In*quis"i*tive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.</def>

<i>Sir W. Temple.</i>

<h1>Inquisitively</h1> <Xpage=767>

<hw>In*quis"i*tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In an inquisitive manner.</def>

<blockquote>The occasion that made him afterwards so <b>inquisitively</b> apply himself to the study of physic. <i>Boyle.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Inquisitiveness</h1> <Xpage=767>

<hw>In*quis"i*tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>Mr. Boswell, whose <b>inquisitiveness</b> is seconded by great activity, scrambled in at a high window. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Curiosity in children nature has provided, to remove that ignorance they were born with; which, without this busy <b>inquisitiveness</b>, will make them dull. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Inquisitor</h1> <Xpage=767>

<hw>In*quis"i*tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L.: cf. F. <ets>inquisiteur</ets>. See <er>Inquire</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An inquisitive person; one fond of asking questions.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark> "<i>Inquisitors</i> are tatlers."

<i>Feltham.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>One whose official duty it is to examine and inquire, as coroners, sheriffs, etc.</def>

<i>Mozley & W.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(R.C.Ch.)</fld> <def>A member of the Court of Inquisition.</def>

<h1>Inquisitorial</h1> <Xpage=767>

<hw>In*quis`i*to"ri*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>inquisitorial</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Pertaining to inquisition; making rigorous and unfriendly inquiry; searching; <as>as, <ex>inquisitorial</ex> power</as>.</def> "Illiberal and <i>inquisitorial</i> abuse."

<i>F. Blackburne.</i>

<blockquote>He conferred on it a kind of <b>inquisitorial</b> and censorious power even over the laity, and directed it to inquire into all matters of conscience. <i>Hume.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Pertaining to the Court of Inquisition or resembling its practices.</def> "<i>Inquisitorial</i> robes."