Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

Curious.

What are you implying?

[SSBubbles]

Well,yesterday, the hospital told me (after four full days of anxiously waiting) that the tests I had undergone on Monday came back negative (No, Not pregnancy!)

Well, for waiting for what seemed like an eternity, you can imagine my relief

Well you should have started a thread for such a Medical Emergency ... you know how we all pull together to help under such circumstances

So I am glad the results were negative and you do not need a course of antibiotics because a lot of Syphilis strains are resistant nowadays and we don't want you to go blind and mad

Not my scene Oracle - I thought you would have sussed that by now!?

If only it had have been that simple - one (ie me) would not have been so worried in the first instance - she says with a mega, mega, mega huge sigh of relief!

I truly thank God and modern day medicine -

[Oracle]

Well,yesterday, the hospital told me (after four full days of anxiously waiting) that the tests I had undergone on Monday came back negative (No, Not pregnancy!)

Well, for waiting for what seemed like an eternity, you can imagine my relief

Well you should have started a thread for such a Medical Emergency ... you know how we all pull together to help under such circumstances

So I am glad the results were negative and you do not need a course of antibiotics because a lot of Syphilis strains are resistant nowadays and we don't want you to go blind and mad

Not my scene Oracle - I thought you would have sussed that by now!?

If only it had have been that simple - one (ie me) would not have been so worried in the first instance - she says with a mega, mega, mega huge sigh of relief!

I truly thank God and modern day medicine -

I thought it was negative?

Medical wonders will never cease

[SSBubbles]

Well,yesterday, the hospital told me (after four full days of anxiously waiting) that the tests I had undergone on Monday came back negative (No, Not pregnancy!)

Well, for waiting for what seemed like an eternity, you can imagine my relief

Well you should have started a thread for such a Medical Emergency ... you know how we all pull together to help under such circumstances

So I am glad the results were negative and you do not need a course of antibiotics because a lot of Syphilis strains are resistant nowadays and we don't want you to go blind and mad

Not my scene Oracle - I thought you would have sussed that by now!?

If only it had have been that simple - one (ie me) would not have been so worried in the first instance - she says with a mega, mega, mega huge sigh of relief!

I truly thank God and modern day medicine -

I thought it was negative?

Medical wonders will never cease

Don't worry O dear - the biopsy was negative - but please do not let that deter you from trying - even in your obvious mature years!


The wonders of modern science - though I not not fully comprehend - I gratefully acknowledge. Thanks

[bill cobbett]

Curious.

What are you implying?

My dear O, what's with the implication and suspicion?

Curious. Have spent many hours with a dictionary today. The word I was on was "curious"

..soon I will move on to my favourite words "set" and "form" - such small words with so many meanings.

curious, a




I. As a subjective quality of persons.

1. a. Bestowing care or pains; careful; studious, attentive. Obs.

c1386 CHAUCER Shipman's T. 243 My deere wif, I the byseeke..For to kepe oure good be curious. 1494 FABYAN Chron. VI. clx. 152 He shold take hym vnto his cure, and be to hym as curyous as he wolde be vnto his owne chylde. c1500 Melusine 109 Melusyne was full curyous and besy to make al thinges redy. 1580 SIDNEY Arcadia v. 457 But the curious servant of Philanax forbade him the entry. 1650 JER. TAYLOR Holy Living i. §1 He that is curious of his time, will not easily be unready and unfurnished. 1721 R. BRADLEY Wks. Nat. 20 The French Gardeners..are..very curious to observe, that no broken part of a mushroom be left. 1779-81 JOHNSON L.P., Cowley Wks. II. 38 They were not always strictly curious, whether the opinions..were true.
b. Anxious, concerned, solicitous. Obs.

c1400 Rom. Rose 1052 Many a traitour envious, That ben ful busie and curious For to dispraise, and to blame. 1513 MORE in Grafton Chron. II. 783 Amongest them that were more amorous of her bodie, then curious of her soule. 1611 SHAKES. Cymb. I. vi. 191 And I am something curious..To haue them in safe stowage. a1697 STRATHSPEY Let. in Aubrey's Misc. 212 Being curious for nothing but the Verity.
2. Careful as to the standard of excellence; difficult to satisfy; particular; nice, fastidious. Obs. a. esp. in food, clothing, matters of taste.

c1380 WYCLIF Sel. Wks. III. 205 Take meete and drinke in mesure, ne to costli ne to licorouse, and be not to corious eraboute. 1489 CAXTON Faytes of A. I. vii. 17 Not curyous of mygnotes, folyetes ne of iewellis. 1579 LYLY Euphues (Arb.) 118 Be not curious to curle thy haire. a1592 H. SMITH Serm. (1866) II. 329 Christ was not curious in his diet. 1605 CAMDEN Rem. (1637) 285 There was one that was very curious in keeping of his beard. 1781 GIBBON Decl. & F. II. 45 They soon became..curious in their diet and apparel. 1821 SCOTT Kenilw. iii, In arranging which [the hair] men at that time..were very nice and curious.
b. generally. Particular; cautious. Obs.

a1533 LD. BERNERS Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Hii, Wise among wyse men, as it is couenable for a curiouse prynce to be. 1596 SHAKES. Tam. Shr. IV. iv. 36 For curious I cannot be with you, Signior Baptista. 1617 MORYSON Itin. I. III. iii. 252 The Italians, in regard of their clime, are very curious to receive strangers in a time of plague. 1662 GERBIER Princ. 15 Builders ought also to be very curious and carefull in the choice of the place to Build a Seat on. 1692 LOCKE Educ. §92 In this Choice be as curious, as you would be in that of a Wife for him. 1772 BURKE Corr. (1844) I. 375 Men of integrity are curious, sometimes too curious, in the choice of means.
c. Particular about details, or as to manner of action. Obs.

1570 B. GOOGE Pop. Kingd. Ded. Q. Eliz., Wherein I haue the lesse beene curious, bycause it was chiefly made for the benifite of the common and simpler sorte. 1655 W. GURNALL Chr. in Arm. II. 243 What is the Gospel of all this? but that God is very curious in his worship. 1697 W. DAMPIER Voy. (1698) I. Aiijb, I have not been curious as to the spelling of the Names of Places, Plants, Fruits, Animals. 1743 Lond. & Country Brew. III. (ed. 2) 195 The Alewives..are most of them as curious in their brewing it [White Ale] as the Dairy-woman in making her Butter.
3. a. Careful or nice in observation or investigation, accurate. Obs.

1642 FULLER Holy & Prof. St. II. xxi. 137 Having in his whole voyage, though a curious searcher after the time, lost one day. 1764 HARMER Observ. XXI. xi. 88 Ascertained by some curious and accurate person. 1816 SINGER Hist. Cards i. 10 It is to be desired that some curious orientalist may think the subject worthy an attentive enquiry.
b. Said of the eye, ear, etc.

1592 SHAKES. Rom. & Jul. I. iv. 31 What curious eye doth quote deformities? 1684 R. H. School of Recreation 9 The little Beagle..is of exceeding Cunning, and curious Scent in Hunting. 1699 BENTLEY Phal. 208 The difference..is very small, and such as might escape even a curious Eye in so dim an Inscription. a1713 T. ELLWOOD Autobiog. (1714) 135 Having a curious Ear, he understood by my Tone, when I understood what I read.
4. Ingenious, skilful, clever, expert. Obs.

1375 BARBOUR Bruce x. 359 A crafty man and a curiouss. c1400 Destr. Troy 11677 A tre, But no clerke is so corious to ken vs the nome. 1582 T. WATSON Cent. Loue Ep. Ded., The curious pensill of Apelles. 1651 FULLER Abel Rediv., Junius (1867) II. 185 A curious limner was employed to draw his picture to the life. 1715 J. RICHARDSON Th. Painting 28 A curious Mechanick's Hand must be exquisite. 1762-71 H. WALPOLE Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) III. 252 That neat and curious painter Vander Heyden.
5. a. Desirous of seeing or knowing; eager to learn; inquisitive. Often with condemnatory connotation: Desirous of knowing what one has no right to know, or what does not concern one, prying. (The current subjective sense.)

a1340 HAMPOLE Psalter cxxxvi. 3 ei are curiouse & wold witt at ei are nout worthi till. 1375 BARBOUR Bruce IV. 687 Bot feill folk ar sa curiouss, And to wit thingis covatouss. c1384 CHAUCER H. Fame I. 29 That somme man is to curiouse In studye. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 18b, How no persone sholde be curyous in askyng questyons concernynge the secretes of god. 1653 H. COGAN tr. Pinto's Trav. xliv. 172 He was a man very curious, and much inclined to hear of novelties, and rare things. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison (1781) I. xiii. 72 Those branches of science which..serve for amusement to inquisitive and curious minds. 1833 H. MARTINEAU Brooke Farm x. 116 Two or three neighbours..were curious to know what he had seen abroad. 1873 HALE In His Name vi. 64 Crowded with curious idlers.
b. Minute in inquiry or discrimination, subtle.

a1585 ABP. SANDYS Serm. (1841) 116 The quiddities of too curious schoolmen.
c. Devoting attention to occult art. Obs.

1549 UDALL, etc. Erasm. Par. Eph. Argt., That Citie was full of Curiouse menne, and suche as were geuen to magicall artes. 1578 TIMME Caluine on Gen. 35 Certaine courious persons abuse this place to colour their vaine prognostications. 1614 BP. HALL Recoll. Treat. 137 Curious men, that consulte with starres, and spirits, for their destinies.
d. Of actions, etc.: Prompted by curiosity.

1840 DICKENS Old C. Shop i, Every now and then she stole a curious look at my face as if to make quite sure that I was not deceiving her. 1876 BLACKIE Songs Relig. & Life 191 Live, and make no curious comment.
6. a. Taking the interest of a connoisseur in any branch of art; skilled as a connoisseur or virtuoso. Const. of, in and inf. Obs.

1577 B. GOOGE Heresbach's Husb. IV. (1586) 170b, Yet of many curious and fine fellowes, for their rarenesse and daintinesse, they [pheasants] are brought up, and kept. 1644 EVELYN Mem. (1857) I. 69 Monsieur Morine..one of the most skilful and curious persons in France for his rare collection of shells, flowers, and insects. 1693 De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 24 Gentlemen that are Curious in Gard'ning. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VII. XVII. §8. 238 He was exceedingly curious in pictures and designs by great masters. 1751 JOHNSON Rambler No. 177 5 A select company of curious men, who met once a week to exhilarate their studies, and compare their acquisitions. Every one of these virtuosos, etc. 1792 Copper-Plate Mag. No. 6 The bishop's family being curious botanists.
b. In this sense often absolutely in pl.

1634 SIR T. HERBERT Trav. 115 Her Caravans lodge exceeds her Mosque, yet neither, of power to beget admiration with the curious. 1708 J. CHAMBERLAYNE St. Gt. Brit. I. III. ii. (1743) 158 There are several Specimens yet remaining in the Cabinets of the Curious. 1768 W. GILPIN Ess. Prints 241 A few impressions had been taken from the plate in its first state, which sell among the curious for ten times the price. 1838-9 HALLAM Hist. Lit. II. ii. II. §59 The curious in bibliography are conversant with other versions and editions of the sixteenth century.
II. As an objective quality of things, etc.

7. a. Made with care or art; skilfully, elaborately or beautifully wrought. Obs.

c1384 CHAUCER H. Fame I. 125 Moo curiouse portreytures..then I sawgh euer. ?a1400 Morte Arth. 61 Thare a citee he sette..with curious walles. c1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7848 A bischop staff was preciouse, And in makyng full curiouse. 1579 LYLY Euphues (Arb.) 54 Doth not experience teach vs, that in the most curious Sepulcher are enclosed rotten bones? 1611 BIBLE Ex. xxviii. 27 The curious girdle of the Ephod. 1653 H. MORE Antid. Ath. II. ix. (1712) 67 Made themselves such curious and safe Nests in Bushes and Trees. 1703 MOXON Mech. Exerc. 21 If your Work be intended to be curious, the true Square-filing the Upper-side..is a great Ornament. 1760-72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) I. IV. ix. 182 [Boats]..of a more curious and elegant construction.
b. Of food, clothing, etc.: Exquisitely prepared, dainty, delicate, recherché. Obs. or arch.

c1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1353 In e clernes of his concubines & curious wedez. c1394 P. Pl. Crede 765 And comeren her stomakes With curiuse drynkes. 1514 BARCLAY Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy) p. lxvi, I aske no palace nor lodging curious. 1593 SHAKES. 3 Hen. VI, II. v. 53 His Viands sparkling in a Golden Cup, His bodie couched in a curious bed. 1615 J. STEPHENS Satyr. Ess. Avijb, The inviter..cannot well provide..One dish so curious, as may please each tast. 1702 C. MATHER Magn. Chr. III. I. i. (1852) 276 He made a careful, though not curious, diet serve him. 1865 SWINBURNE Poems & Ball., Leper 6, I served her wine and curious meat.
8. Carefully worked out or prepared; elaborate. Obs.

1561 T. NORTON Calvin's Inst. II. 145 Ye obiections are not so strong that they nede a curious confutation. 1573 G. HARVEY Letter-bk. (Camden) 44 Not to look after ani set or curious epistle. 1614 BP. HALL Recoll. Treat. 839 Persecuted with most curious torments. 1674 BREVINT Saul at Endor 363 Served with the curiousest Music.
9. Of actions, investigations, etc.: Characterized by special care, careful, accurate, minute.

1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 142b, Stones quadrat or squared, polysshed & dressed after the moost curyous maner. a1534 LD. BERNERS Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Gviiib, He made curious diligence to searche out all the players. 1652 NEEDHAM tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 168 It did not sufficiently appear..without a more curious examination. 1667 Observ. Burning London in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 446 A more curious and earnest inquiry of the truth. 1859 DISRAELI Sp. in Times 22 July, A subject, which demands the most curious investigation. 1866 ARGYLL Reign Law vii. (1871) 340 Many years of curious enquiry and of laborious contrivance.
10. Characterized by minute inquiry or treatment: a. Unduly minute or inquisitive. Obs.

c1340 HAMPOLE Prose Tr. (1866) 3 The name of Ihesu..dos a-waye coryous and vayne ocupacyons fra vs. 1535 COVERDALE Job xxxv. 15 Nether hath he pleasure in curious and depe inquisicions. 1577 T. VAUTROLLIER Luther on Ep. Gal. 16 We must abstaine from ye curious searching of Gods maiestie. 1654 FULLER Two Serm. 63 [This question] is curious for man to enquire and impossible to determine. 1742 YOUNG Nt. Th. ix. 1853 'Tis not the curious, but the pious path, That leads me to my point.
b. Intricate, abstruse, subtle. Obs.

c1391 CHAUCER Astrol. Prol. 2 That curio[u]s enditing & hard sentence is ful heuy atones for swich a child to lerne. 1538 STARKEY England I. iv. 137 The maner of syngyng..was not so curyouse as hyt ys now. 1563 FULKE Meteors (1640) 70b, A Mathematicall reason..more curious, than can be understood of the common sort. 1613 J. SALKELD Treat. Angels 335 Amongst other very curious questions which Theodoretus upon Genesis propoundeth, one is this. 1664 POWER Exp. Philos. Pref. 10 In these narrow Engines [microscopic animals] there is more curious Mathematics.
c. Recondite, occult. Obs.

1382 WYCLIF Acts xix. 19 Manye of hem that sueden curiouse thingis brouten to gidere bookis, and brennyden hem bifore alle men. c1386 CHAUCER Frankl. T. 392 As yonge clerkes that been lykerous To reden Artes that been curious..a book he say Of Magyk natureel. 1611 BIBLE Acts xix. 19. 1619 SIR A. GORGES tr. Bacon's De Sap. Vet. 95 Unlawfull and curious arts of what kind soever.
11. Minutely accurate, exact, precise. Obs.

1614 SELDEN Titles Hon. II. i. §43 Your curious learning and judgment may correct where I have erred. 1665 HOOKE Microgr. 2 The Points of the most curious Mathematical Instruments. 1672 PETTY Pol. Anat. Pref., Curious Dissections cannot be made without variety of proper Instruments. 1764 DUNN in Phil. Trans. LIV. 115, I set my watch exactly by the clocks; captain Bentincke and captain Holland were present with curious watches. 1825 CARLYLE Schiller II. (1845) 57 Formed upon a strict and curious standard.
12. Of materials: Fine, delicate. Obs.

1665 HOOKE Microgr. 4 Even the most curious Powder that can be made use of..must consist of..rough particles. Ibid. 5 The finest Lawn..so curious that the threads were scarce discernable by the naked eye. 1669 A. BROWNE Ars Pict. (1675) 87 Draw the lines of the Eyelids..with a pencil somewhat more curious and sharp then before.
13. Of or pertaining to the exercise of care, skill, or ingenuity; skilled, skilful. Obs. (Cf. 4.)

1681 J. CHETHAM Angler's Vade-m. Pref., It is not fine, curious, and skilful Angling, that destroys the breed of Fish. a1687 PETTY Pol. Arith. i. (1691) 33 As Trades and curious Arts increase; so the Trade of Husbandry will decrease. 1776 ADAM SMITH W.N. I. xi. (1869) I. 163 He decides, like a true lover of all curious cultivation, in favour of the vineyard.
14. Without explicit reference to workmanship: Exquisite, choice, excellent, fine (in beauty, flavour, or other good quality). Obs. or dial. (Cf. mod. use of nice.)

c1420 Avow. Arth. lii, Maydyns..curtase and curiowse Forsothe in bed lay. 1535 STEWART Cron. Scot. II. 17 He gat on hir ane sone callit Fergus, In all this warld wes nane mair curious. 1638 SIR T. HERBERT Trav. 297 The Orenges..are..of so curious a relish, as affects the eater beyond measure. Ibid. 354 Cloath'd with sweet grasse, long and curious. 1665 PEPYS Diary 24 Sept., A very calm, curious morning. 1667 PRIMATT City & C. Build. 10 Salisbury Plain, and divers other places of champion ground in England, which are very famous for curious air. 1697 W. DAMPIER Voy. (1698) I. xv. 436 We filled all our Water at a curious Brook close by us. 1725 BRADLEY Fam. Dict. s.v. Vinegar, In about thirty or forty Days it will be curious Vinegar. 1742 Phil. Trans. XLII. 148 (In Suffolk) She said..if her Butter was not curious, she eat dry Bread. 1816 J. PICKERING Voc. U.S., Curious..is often heard in New England among the common farmers, in the sense of ‘excellent’, or ‘peculiarly excellent’; as in..‘These are curious apples’; ‘this is curious cider’.
15. Calling forth feelings of interest; interesting, noteworthy. Obs. or arch.

1682 BURNET Rights Princes iv. 135 The curiousest Remains of former Ages that are extant. 1759 SIR J. REYNOLDS Idler No. 76 5 It is curious to observe, that, etc. 1793 SMEATON Edystone L. §56 [It] would have been not only curious, but useful, had it been handed down to us. 1816 KEATINGE Trav. (1817) II. 80 It would be very curious to be able to ascertain where and how the scaffolding was obtained for such a work.
16. a. Deserving or exciting attention on account of its novelty or peculiarity; exciting curiosity; somewhat surprising, strange, singular, odd; queer. (The ordinary current objective sense.)

1715 J. RICHARDSON Th. Painting 100 This is very Particular, and Curious. 1719 Sc. Connoisseur 204 What is Rare, and Curious without any Other consideration we Naturally take Pleasure in. 1769 BURKE Observ. Late State Nation Wks. 1842 I. 101 A most curious reason, truly! 1807 CRABBE Par. Reg. III. 509 No curious shell, rare plant, or brilliant spar, Inticed our traveller. 1869 DILKE Greater Brit. II. 163 Seated in the piazza..I had before me a curious scene. 1888 BRYCE Amer. Commw. III. xc. 251, I give here a few of the novel or curious provisions of the Constitution of California of 1789.
b. Used as a euphemistic description of erotic or pornographic works.

1877 ‘PISANUS FRAXI’ (title) Index librorum prohibitorum: being notes bio-biblio-icono-graphical and critical, on curious and uncommon books. 1925 A. HUXLEY Those Barren Leaves I. v. 55 The publications of the Purity League figure invariably under the heading ‘Curious’ in the booksellers’ catalogues. 1934 H. G. WELLS Exper. Autobiogr. II. viii. 529 That redoubtable suppressed Life and Loves of his..which is sought after by collectors of ‘curious’ books. 1947 [see CURIOSA]. 1970 I. MONTAGU Youngest Son 240 My voracious approach to literature included the pages in the bookseller's catalogue labelled ‘Erotica’ or ‘Curious’, and I have yet to see an atom of evidence that pornography ever did anyone any harm.
c. Phr. curiouser and curiouser, more and more curious; increasingly strange.

1865 ‘L. CARROLL’ Alice in Wonderland ii. 15 ‘Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). 1931 D. L. SAYERS Five Red Herrings xv. 167 ‘I formed the opinion..that Mr. Gowan had..not departed from Kirkcudbright on the Monday evening..but that he had remained concealed in his own house.’.. ‘Curiouser and curiouser,’ said Wimsey. 1939 M. ALLINGHAM Mr. Campion & Others I. ix. 203 ‘Perhaps it wasn't empty then?’ ‘In that case it's curiouser and curiouser.’ 1970 Guardian 31 Dec. 8/1 The ways of film companies become curiouser and curiouser.
17. Such as interests the curioso or connoisseur. Obs.

1665 BOYLE Occas. Refl. (1669) 359 The number of fine things that make up this curious collection. 1719 J. RICHARDSON Sc. Connoisseur 45 Pictures, Drawings, Prints, Statues, Intaglias, and the like Curious Works of Art. 1731-7 MILLER Gard. Dict. s.v. Iris, They are generally banish'd from very curious Gardens, and are proper only for large Gardens. 1768 W. GILPIN Ess. Prints 145 In curious collections we meet with a few of Cuyps etchings.
III. 18. quasi-adv. Curiously. Obs.

1593 SHAKES. Lucr. 1300 This is too curious-good, this blunt and ill. a1644 QUARLES 11 Pious Medit. (1717) 64 They were not wise enough, and yet too wise; Too curious wise. 1687 CONGREVE Old Batch. IV. xvii, 'Tis most curious fine weather. 1791 COWPER Odyss. XXI. 460 Within the hall, let none look curious forth. 1834 J. H. NEWMAN Lett. (1891) II. 39 Curious enough, Rose writes down to praise it.
Hence curious v. (intr.), nonce-wd. to work curiously or artistically.

1606 SYLVESTER Du Bartas II. iv. II. (1641) 212/2 A great cornaline; Where some rare Artist (curiousing upon't) Hath deeply cut Times triple-formed Front.

[Get Real!]

Well,yesterday, the hospital told me (after four full days of anxiously waiting) that the tests I had undergone on Monday came back negative

I'm glad you finally had that IQ test...

[Zorba]

Oracle,don't ask him a question like that again,please. I broke my scroller

[Oracle]

Thank you for a full and frank answer.

I feel like the proverbial cat for whom said word was lethal .....

[bill cobbett]

Oracle,don't ask him a question like that again,please. I broke my scroller

What's a "scroller" - where's that dictionary?

[Zorba]

Oracle,don't ask him a question like that again,please. I broke my scroller

What's a "scroller" - where's that dictionary?

That thing on top of my mouse,By the time I scrolled to the bottom,smoke was coming out of my mouse