Inquisitive

In*quis"i*tive, n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research. Sir W. Temple.

In*quis"i*tive (?), a. [OE. inquisitif, F. inquisitif.] 1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer.

A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent.

2. Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious.

A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius.

Syn. -- Inquiring; prying; curious; meddling; intrusive. - - Inquisitive, Curious, Prying. Curious denotes a feeling, and inquisitive a habit. We are curious when we desire to learn something new; we are inquisitive when we set ourselves to gain it by inquiry or research. Prying implies inquisitiveness, and is more commonly used in a bad sense, as indicating a desire to penetrate into the secrets of others.

[We] curious are to hear,
What happens new.

This folio of four pages [a newspaper], happy work!
Which not even critics criticise; that holds
Inquisitive attention, while I read.

Nor need we with a prying eye survey
The distant skies, to find the Milky Way.