covetous

[kuhv-i-tuhs]

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adjective

inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.
eagerly desirous.

Origin of covetous

1250–1300; Middle English coveitous < Anglo-French, Old French; see covet, -ous

Related formscov·et·ous·ly, adverbcov·et·ous·ness, nounnon·cov·et·ous, adjectivenon·cov·et·ous·ly, adverbnon·cov·et·ous·ness, nouno·ver·cov·et·ous, adjectiveo·ver·cov·et·ous·ly, adverbo·ver·cov·et·ous·ness, nounun·cov·et·ous, adjectiveun·cov·et·ous·ly, adverbun·cov·et·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for covetous

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1. grasping, rapacious.

Synonym study

1. See avaricious.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for covetousness

cupidity, greed

Examples from the Web for covetousness

Historical Examples of covetousness

Dishonesty has its source in the covetousness and greed of the human heart.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
In fact, such a deed might savour of jealousy and covetousness.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
It was not covetousness altogether which had prompted him to do that; the reward was only an incident.
Murder Point
Coningsby Dawson
The covetousness or the malignity which saddens me when I ascribe it to society, is my own.
Essays, Second Series
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Envy and covetousness begat injustice, and injustice disloyalty.
The Legacy of Greece
Various

British Dictionary definitions for covetousness

covetous

adjective

(usually postpositive and foll by of) jealously eager for the possession of something (esp the property of another person)

Derived Formscovetously, adverbcovetousness, 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

Word Origin and History for covetousness

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.