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ambitions

 - 3 dictionary results

am⋅bi⋅tion

  [am-bish-uhn]
–noun
1. an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment: Too much ambition caused him to be disliked by his colleagues.
2. the object, state, or result desired or sought after: The crown was his ambition.
3. desire for work or activity; energy: I awoke feeling tired and utterly lacking in ambition.
–verb (used with object)
4. to seek after earnestly; aspire to.
Use ambitions in a Sentence
Origin:
1300–50; ME ambicio(u)n (< MF) < L ambitiōn- (s. of ambitiō), equiv. to amb- ambi- + -i- go + -t- ptp. suffix + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
am⋅bi⋅tion⋅less, adjective
am⋅bi⋅tion⋅less⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. aspiration, yearning, longing. 2. goal, aim. 3. drive, force.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ambitions
am·bi·tion   (ām-bĭsh'ən)   
n.  

    1. An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power.

    2. The object or goal desired: Her ambition is the presidency.

  2. Desire for exertion or activity; energy: had no ambition to go dancing.


[Middle English ambicioun, excessive desire for honor, power, or wealth, from Old French ambition, from Latin ambitiō, ambitiōn-, from ambitus, past participle of ambīre, to go around (for votes); see ambient.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ambition 
1340, from L. ambitionem (nom. ambitio) "a going around (to solicit votes)," from ambitus, pp. of ambire "to go around" (see ambient). Rarely used in the literal sense in Eng.; the sense of "eager or inordinate desire of honor or preferment" goes back to the L.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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