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greed

 - 3 dictionary results

greed

[greed]
–noun
excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions.

Origin:
1600–10; back formation from greedy


greedless, adjective
greedsome, adjective


avarice, avidity, cupidity, covetousness; voracity, ravenousness, rapacity. Greed, greediness denote an excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share. Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication: His greed drove him to exploit his workers. Greediness, when unqualified, suggests a craving for food; it may, however, be applied to all avid desires, and need not be always uncomplimentary: greediness for knowledge, fame, praise.


generosity.

gree

3[gree]
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), greed, gree⋅ing. British Dialect.
agree.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME; see gree 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To greed
greed   (grēd)   
n.  An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth: "Many . . . attach to competition the stigma of selfish greed" (Henry Fawcett).

[Back-formation from greedy.]
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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