avaricious

American  

[av-uh-rish-uhs] / ˌæv əˈrɪʃ əs /

adjective

1. characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.

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Related Words

Avaricious, covetous, greedy, rapacious share the sense of desiring to possess more of something than one already has or might in normal circumstances be entitled to. Avaricious often implies a pathological, driven greediness for money or other valuables and usually suggests a concomitant miserliness: the cheerless dwelling of an avaricious usurer. Covetous implies a powerful and usually illicit desire for the property or possessions of another: The book collector was openly covetous of my rare first edition. Greedy, the most general of these terms, suggests a naked and uncontrolled desire for almost anything—food and drink, money, emotional gratification: embarrassingly greedy for praise. Rapacious, stronger and more assertive than the other terms, implies an aggressive, predatory, insatiable, and unprincipled desire for possessions and power: a rapacious frequenter of tax sales and forced auctions.

Other Word Forms

• avariciously
  adverb
• avariciousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of avaricious

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at avarice, -ious

Explanation

Someone who is avaricious is greedy or grasping, concerned with gaining wealth. The suggestion is that an avaricious person will do anything to achieve material gain, and it is, in general, not a pleasant attribute. The Latin verb avēre, meaning "to crave" provides the groundwork for the word avaricious and its definition as "greedy or covetous." The adjective is applied to anyone who "craves" great wealth, and suggests that desire for personal gain is an overriding influence in the avaricious person's life. The widespread quality of this selfishness was cleverly noted by Voltaire, who wrote, “Men hate the individual whom they call avaricious only because nothing can be gained from him.”

Example Sentences

Avaricious young hotshots and a grumpy old master: that the festival accords them equal respect is a sign of its renewed vigor.

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2010

Muhal Richard Abrams's Charlie in the Parker reprises bop – but with the canny diversions Escreet himself favours – and Avaricious World is a vehicle for Nasheet Waits's eloquent drumming.

From The Guardian • Aug. 5, 2010

Avaricious bosses like Angelo Mozilo, who pocketed more than $550m during his inglorious reign at Countrywide, are exceptions.

From Economist • Dec. 17, 2009

Avaricious landlords make a killing by collecting rents without making any repairs, then sell out quickly.

From Time Magazine Archive

Avaricious, because they crouched to the planters with calico and manufactures, or admired their bullying for the sake of their cotton.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 3, March, 1862 by Various