Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget

455. [The desire of knowledge.] Curiosity — N. interest, thirst for

knowledge, thirst for truth; curiosity, curiousness; inquiring mind; inquisitiveness. omnivorous intellect, devouring mind. [person who desires knowledge] inquirer; sightseer; quidnunc [Lat.], newsmonger, Paul Pry, eavesdropper; gossip &c (news) 532; rubberneck; intellectual; seeker [inquirer after religious knowledge], seeker after truth. V. be curious &c adj.; take an interest in, stare, gape; prick up the ears, see sights, lionize; pry; nose; rubberneck [U.S.]. Adj. curious, inquisitive, burning with curiosity, overcurious; inquiring &c 461; prying, snoopy, nosy, peering; prurient; inquisitorial, inquisitory†; curious as a cat; agape &c (expectant) 507. Phr. what's the matter? what next? consumed with curiosity; curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back. curiouser and curiouser [Alice in Wonderland].