covetous
[kuhv-i-tuh s]
- inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.
- eagerly desirous.
Show More
Origin of covetous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for covetous on Thesaurus.com1. grasping, rapacious.
Synonym study
1. See avaricious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for covetously
Historical Examples
He took it all into his heart, covetously, greedily, trying to fix it there for ever.
Robert ElsmereMrs. Humphry Ward
Fleming's eye glanced at it covetously, ignoring the figure behind it.
From Sand Hill to PineBret Harte
"Wish we were on the same game," added Branscombe covetously.
The Thick of the Fray at ZeebruggePercy F. Westerman
He snatched it covetously from the letter-rack, and carried it upstairs to his room.
The Adventures of SallyP. G. Wodehouse
Then he leaned forward, his eyes fixed boldly, covetously on her.
The SalamanderOwen Johnson
covetous
- (usually postpositive and foll by of) jealously eager for the possession of something (esp the property of another person)
Show More
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
Word Origin and History for covetously
covetous
adj.
mid-13c., from Old French coveitos (12c., Modern French convoiteux) "desirous, covetous," from Vulgar Latin *cupiditosus, from Latin cupiditas (see covet). Related: Covetously; covetousness.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper