avarice

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

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

Etymology

From Middle English avarice, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, from avārus (“greedy”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

greed, covetousness, rapacity, avaritia

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading