Inquisitive /(?)/

In·quis·i·tive

Inquisitive

a.
  1. Disposed to ask questions, especially in matters which do not concern the inquirer.
    A wise man is not inquisitive about things impertinent.
    — Broome.
  2. Given to examination, investigation, or research; searching; curious.
    A young, inquisitive, and sprightly genius.
    [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.
    — Creech.
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.

Inquisitive

n.
  1. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.