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ShatteredEquilibrium Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Vocabulary -> Curiosities??

Hi, I've heard a few times now the word "curiosities" used as "some interesting, random pieces of information" and started wondering whether it really can be used in that sense. I know an object or a person may be a curiosity, but what about such facts as "the human hair continues to grow after death" etc. Would you list such trivia under the headline "curiosities"? I personally feel something like "interesting facts" would be far more appropriate, however simplistic.
  

Top answer

Curiosities is the word you want, I think. However, I remember hearing someone say that human hair doesn't really continue to grow after death; rather, the skin begins to shrink, making it appear that the hair is still growing.

— Philip

  • Curiosities is the word you want, I think.
  • However, I remember hearing someone say that human hair doesn't really continue to grow after death; rather, the skin begins to shrink, making it appear that the hair is still growing.
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7 Answers
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Curiosities is the word you want, I think. However, I remember hearing someone say that human hair doesn't really continue to grow after death; rather, the skin begins to shrink, making it appear that the hair is still growing.
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I think that "trivia" is the more common term.
A curiosity (curio) is something you find in antique fairs or bazaars.
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That's what I thought, thank you for dispelling my doubts Emotion: wink
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I hesitate to 'argue' with AEmotion: stars, so I'll just 'add' that American Heritage includes "strange or odd aspect" in their definitions, whi
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PhilipI hesitate to 'argue' with As, so I'll just 'add' that American Heritage includes "strange or odd aspect" in their definitions, which I consider to fit with hair (and fingernails) continuing to grow after death.
Well, I didn't say it wasn't suitable, just not the usual definition. Lewis Caroll would have used it in that way: "Curiouser and curiouser!"
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AlpheccaStars PhilipI hesitate to 'argue' with As, so I'll just 'add' that American Heritage includes "strange or odd aspect" in their definitions, which I consider to fit with hair (and fingernails) continuing to grow after death.Well, I didn't say it wasn't suitable, just not the usual definition. Lewis Caroll would have used it in that way: "Curiouser and curiouser!" H
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ShatteredEquilibriumI've heard a few times now the word "curiosities" used as "some interesting, random pieces of information" and started wondering whether it really can be used in that sense.
I see no problem in using 'curiosities' in that way.

CJ
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