avarice
[ av-er-is ]
/ ˈæv ər ɪs /
Save This Word!
noun
insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of avarice
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, equivalent to avār(us) “greedy” + -itia -ice
Words nearby avarice
avant-gardism, Avanti, avantist, Avapro, Avar, avarice, avaricious, avascular, avascular graft, avascularization, avast
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for avarice
British Dictionary definitions for avarice
avarice
/ (ˈævərɪs) /
noun
extreme greed for riches; cupidity
Derived forms of avarice
avaricious, adjectiveavariciously, adverbavariciousness, nounWord Origin for avarice
C13: from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avārus covetous, from avēre to crave
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