nvarice

[In Fr. avarice; Sp. avaricia; Port. avareza; Ital. avarizia; Lat. avaritia, from avarus = eagerly desirous of.] 1. Spec .: An exce ive craving after wealth; greedine of gain; inordinate love of money; covetousne . "And the difference bytwixe avarice and coveytise is this coveitise is for to coveyte suche thinges as thou hast not; and avarice is to withholde and kepe suche thinges as thou hast, withouten rightful neede." -Chaucer: Per sones Tale. "Avarice is rarely the vice of a young man: it is rarely the vice of a great man."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng . , ch. xiv. 2. Gen.: Insatiable desire of something else than money. "And all are taught an avarice of praise." Golasmith: The Traveller. av-a-ri-çious (çious as shus), a. [Eng. avaric(e); -ious. In Fr. avaricieux; Ital. avaraccio.] 1. Insatiably eager to acquire wealth; covetous. "Luxurious, avaricious , false, deceitful." Shakesp.: Macbeth, iv. 8. "An unrelenting, avaricious thrift." Words worth: Excursion, bk. vi. ăv-a-ri-çious-ly (çious as shŭs), adv. [Eng. avaricious: -ly.] In an avaricious manner; covetously. av-a-ri-çious-ne (çious as shus), 8. [Eng. avaricious; -ne .] The quality of being avaricious; covetousne .