curiosa
Americanplural noun
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books, pamphlets, etc., dealing with unusual subjects.
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(in selling and collecting books) books, pamphlets, etc., containing pornographic literature or art; erotica.
noun
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curiosities
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books on strange subjects, esp erotica
Etymology
Origin of curiosa
1880–85; < New Latin: unusual things, special use of neuter plural of Latin cūriōsus careful, inquisitive. See curious
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As is the case with most pop culture curiosa, “Shōgun” only deserves partial credit or blame for escalating America’s fetishizing of Japanese style and customs.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2024
The brothers were touring the Mütter Museum, a 19th-century repository of curiosa at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, garbed somewhat disappointingly in chinos and sweaters.
From New York Times ● Oct. 15, 2010
Maps on tissue-thin paper, which could be eaten if need be, were among the curiosa of World War II, publicly shown for the first time in New York last week.
From Time Magazine Archive
Hydrophones have recorded clamors that have been sold as phonographic curiosa, but . . . it is not the reality of the sea .
From Time Magazine Archive
And, indeed it was pardonable, Dempster's metaphors being usually marked by a curiosa infelicitas.
From A Practical Novelist by John Davidson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
