Adjective

(en adjective)

Obvious or easy to notice.

* {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne

, title=Well Tackled! , chapter=7 citation , passage=“No, don't,” replied the superintendent; “in fact, I'd rather you made yourself conspicuous elsewhere. Go down to the landing stage and cross to New Brighton or Wallasey—doesn't matter which—and come back. No doubt you will be seen, and reported to have gone across.”}}

He was conspicuous by his absence.

Noticeable or attracting attention, especially if unattractive.

* 1969 , Saul Bellow, Mr Sammler's Planet , Penguin Books Ltd, page 6:

For his height he had a small face. The combination made him conspicuous .

He had a conspicuous lump on his forehead.

Adjective

(en-adj)

(lb) Fastidious, particular; demanding a high standard of excellence, difficult to satisfy.

*1612 , , Proceedings of the English Colonie in Virginia , in Kupperman 1988, p.172:

*:But departing thence, when we found no houses, we were not curious in any weather, to lie 3 or 4 nights together upon any shore under the trees by a good fire.

*(Thomas Fuller) (1606-1661)

*:little curious in her clothes

Inquisitive; tending to ask questions, investigate, or explore.

:

Prompted by curiosity.

*1590 , (Edmund Spenser), (The Faerie Queene) , III.ix:

*:But he to shift their curious request, / Gan causen, why she could not come in place.

Unusual; odd; out of the ordinary; bizarre.

:

*

*:Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

(lb) Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate; wrought with elegance or skill.

*(Bible), (w) xxxv.32

*:to devise curious works

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:his body couched in a curious bed