Noun

(en-noun)

(physics) (of a body in motion) The tendency of a body to maintain its inertial motion; the product of its mass and velocity.

The impetus, either of a body in motion, or of an idea or course of events. (i.e: a moment)

* 1843, Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Old Apple Dealer", in Mosses from an Old Manse

The travellers swarm forth from the cars. All are full of the momentum which they have caught from their mode of conveyance.

* 1882, Thomas Hardy, Two on a Tower

Their intention to become husband and wife, at first halting and timorous, had accumulated momentum with the lapse of hours, till it now bore down every obstacle in its course.

* '>citation

Noun

(curiosities)

(obsolete) Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building.

* 1631 , John Smith, Advertisements , in Kupperman 1988, p. 81:

wee built a homely thing like a barne, set upon Cratchets, covered with rafts, sedge, and earth, so also was the walls; the best of our houses of the like curiosity , but the most part farre much worse workmanship [...].

Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.

* 1886 , (Robert Louis Stevenson), (Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde)

It was the first time that the lawyer had been received in that part of his friend's quarters; and he eyed the dingy, windowless structure with curiosity , and gazed round with a distasteful sense of strangeness as he crossed the theatre

* 1956 , , (The City and the Stars) , p 39:

"Certainly there is nothing wrong with Alvin's intelligence, but many of the things that should concern him seem to be a matter of complete indifference. On the other hand, he shows a morbid curiosity regarding subjects which we do not generally discuss."

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Terrie Moffitt] [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/richie-poulton et] [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/avshalom-caspi al.

, magazine=(American Scientist), title= Lifelong Impact of Early Self-Control , passage=Curiosity about the power of self-control skills, which include conscientiousness, self-discipline, and perseverance, arose from recent empirical observations that preschool Head Start, an ambitious, federally funded program of special services launched in 1965 to boost the intellectual development of needy children, has failed to achieve the goal of boosting IQ scores. But the programs have unexpectedly succeeded in lowering the former pupils’ rates of teen pregnancy, school dropout, delinquency, and work absenteeism.}}

A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.