avarice Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)
    covetousness; avaritia; greed; rapacity.
  2. noun extreme greed for material wealth
    covetousness; cupidity; avariciousness.

WordNet

Av"a*rice noun
Etymology
F. avaritia, fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. avre to covert, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. , , to satiate, Skr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.
Definitions
  1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity.
    To desire money for its own sake, and in order to hoard it up, is avarice. Beattie.
  2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good.
    All are taught an avarice of praise. Goldsmith.

Webster 1913