avarice
[ av-er-is ]
noun
insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth.
Origin of avarice
1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, equivalent to avār(us) “greedy” + -itia -ice
Other words for avarice
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for avarice
avarice
/ (ˈævərɪs) /
noun
extreme greed for riches; cupidity
Origin of avarice
1C13: from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avārus covetous, from avēre to crave
Derived forms of avarice
- avaricious, adjective
- avariciously, adverb
- avariciousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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