inquisitiveness

American  

[in-kwiz-i-tiv-nis] / ɪnˈkwɪz ɪ tɪv nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being given to asking questions; intellectual curiosity or eagerness for knowledge.

   Younger students often have an amazing sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness that naturally leads them into exploring and learning.

2. the quality of being excessively or inappropriately curious about other people’s affairs; nosiness.

   My landlord's inquisitiveness made me determined to seek more desirable accommodations elsewhere.

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Other Word Forms

• superinquisitiveness
  noun
• uninquisitiveness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inquisitiveness

inquisitive ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Inquisitiveness is necessary as public health is the direct application of science in the field.

From US News • Sep. 30, 2014

Inquisitiveness becomes a habit with fellows like Gomez, and I dare say it's needful.

From The Coast of Adventure by Bindloss, Harold

Rat and Owl Fight; Moralizing on Climbing a greased Pole; Inquisitiveness, with an Instance thereof, 565.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851 by Various

Inquisitiveness has little place in the region of the city, and they gained the opposite footpath unnoticed by the casual passer-by.

From The Masquerader by Thurston, Katherine Cecil

Inquisitiveness would have seemed needless impertinence—just as much so as yours would have been in the case of the hypothetical So-and-sos at the beginning of our last chapter.

From Somehow Good by De Morgan, William Frend