avarice
noun/ˈævəɹɪs/ · /ˈævəɹəs/
Etymology From Middle English avarice, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, from avārus (“greedy”).
1
Usually Excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greed for wealth
- By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise, it serves to vivify and invigorate the channels of industry, and to make them flow with greater activity and copiousness.1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number XII”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC:
2
Usually Inordinate desire for some supposed good.
- Synonyms
- avariciousness
- Related terms
- avaricious, avariciously