King James Bible Dictionary

CURIOUS, adjective [Latin , care. See Cure.]

1. Strongly desirous to see what is novel, or to discover what is unknown; solicitous to see or to know; inquisitive.

Be not curious in unnecessary matters, nor to pry into the concerns of your neighbors.

2. Habitually inquisitive; addicted to research or enquiry; as a man of a curious turn of mind; sometimes followed by after, and sometimes by of.

CURIOUS after things elegant and beautiful; curious of antiquities.

3. Accurate; careful not to mistake; solicitous to be correct.

Men were not curious what syllables or particles they used.

4. Careful; nice; solicitous in selection; difficult to please.

A temperate man is not curious of delicacies.

5. Nice; exact; subtile; made with care.

Both these senses embrace their objects--with a more curious discrimination.

6. Artful; nicely diligent.

Each ornament about her seemly lies, by curious chance, or careless art, composed.

7. Wrought with care and art; elegant; neat; finished; as a curious girdle; curious work Exodus 28:8 and 30.

8. Requiring care and nicety; as curious arts. Acts 19:19.

9. Rigid; severe; particular. [Little used.]

10. Rare; singular; a a curious fact.

(Acts 19:19), magical arts; jugglery practised by the Ephesian conjurers. Ephesus was noted for its wizard and the "Ephesian spells;" i.e., charms or scraps of parchment written over with certain formula, which were worn as a safeguard against all manner of evils. The more important and powerful of these charms were written out in books which circulated among the exorcists, and were sold at a great price.

CURIOUSLY, adverb

1. With nice inspection; inquisitively; attentively.

I saw nothing at first, but observing it more curiously the spots appeared.

2. With nice care and art; exactly; neatly; elegantly. Psalms 139:15.

3. In a singular manner; unusually.

CURIOUSNESS, noun

1. Fitness to excite curiosity; exactness of workmanship.

2. Singularity of contrivance.

3. Curiosity.