I. (Acc. to cura, I.) Bestowing care or pains upon a thing, applying one's self assiduously, careful, diligent, thoughtful, devoted (class.; esp. freq. in Cic.).
A. In gen.
(α).
With in or ad: “in omni historiā curiosus,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 45, 108: “si me nihilo minus nosti curiosum in re publicā quam te,” id. Att. 5, 14, 3: “ad investigandum curiosior,” id. Fam. 4, 13, 5.—
(β).
With gen. (post-Aug.): “medicinae,” Plin. 25, 2, 3, § 7: “memoriae,” Aur. Vict. Caes. 20 fin.: “curiosissimus famae suae,” Capitol. Anton. Philos. 20.—
(δ).
Absol.: “non quidem doctus, sed curiosus,” Petr. 46, 6; so, “pictor,” id. 29, 4: “felicitas Horatii,” id. 118, 5: “manus,” id. 13, 1: “consilia,” Quint. 7, 5, 2: “interpolatione,” Plin. 13, 12, 23, § 75 al. —*
2. With the access. idea of excess, too eager: “est etiam supervacua (ut sic dixerim) operositas, ut a diligenti curiosus et a religione superstitio distat,” Quint. 8, 3, 55.—
B. In partic., inquiring eagerly or anxiously about a thing, inquiring into, in a good or bad sense; curious, inquisitive.
1. In gen.: “ne curiosissimi quidem homines exquirendo audire tam multa possunt, quam, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 1, 35, 97; id. Fam. 3, 1, 1; Varr. R. R. 2, 3, 5; Quint. 1, 8, 21; 11, 3, 143; * Hor. Epod. 17, 77 al.: “curiosis oculis perspici non possit,” Cic. Sest. 9, 22.—
2. Implying censure ( = πολυπράγμων), meddlesome, officious, curious, prying, inquisitive: “primum patere me esse curiosum,” Cic. Fl. 29, 70; id. Fin. 2, 9, 28 Madv.; 1, 1, 3; id. Att. 15, 26, 5; cf.: “quare ut homini curioso ita perscribe ad me,” id. ib. 4, 11, 2: “curiosum aliquem extimescere,” Petr. 127: “Quae (basia) nec pernumerare curiosi Possint,” Cat. 7, 11 Ellis ad loc.—
b. Post-Aug., subst.: cūrĭōsus , i, m., of one who is prying, a spy, scout: “curiosum ac speculatorem ratus,” Suet. Aug. 27.—Later, a class of secret spies, secret police, an informer, etc.; cf. Cod. Just. 12, tit. 23: De Curiosis et Stationariis al.—
II. (Acc. to cura, II.) Lit., that injures himself by care; hence, transf., emaciated, wasted, lean: “belua,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 6, 26 (v. the passage in connection); cf.: nempe ille vivit carie curiosior, Afran. ap. Non. p. 21, 28 (Com. Rel. v. 250 Rib.).—Adv.: cūrĭŏsē .
A. (Acc. to I. A.) With care, carefully: “involvendus vestimentis,” Cels. 2, 17; cf. Petr. 63, 6; Col. 12, 55, 2: “cavere,” Suet. Aug. 40 al.—Comp., Vitr. 7, 4.—Sup., Col. 11, 2, 18.—*
B. (Acc. to I. B. 2.) Inquisitively, curiously: “inquirerem,” Suet. Vesp. 1.—Comp.: “curiosius conquiram,” Cic. Brut. 35, 133: “facere aliquid,” id. N. D. 1, 5, 10: “animadvertunt ea, quae domi fiunt (pueri),” id. Fin. 5, 15, 42.
