covetous

  • 1covetous — covetous, greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or manifesting a strong desire for possessions, especially material possessions. Covetous implies inordinateness of desire; very often, with allusion to the Ten Commandments, it… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 2Covetous — Cov et*ous (k?v ?t ?s), a. [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See {Covet}, v. t.] 1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; used in a good sense. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak. [1913 Webster] Covetous death bereaved us all …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3covetous — mid 13c., from O.Fr. coveitos (12c., Mod.Fr. convoiteux) desirous, covetous, from V.L. *cupiditosus, from L. cupiditas (see COVET (Cf. covet)). Related: Covetousness …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4covetous — index eager, illiberal, insatiable, jealous, mercenary Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5covetous — [adj] greedy; very desirous acquisitive, avaricious, avid, close fisted, eager, ensurient, envious, gluttonous, grabby, grasping, green eyed*, grudging, hogging, itchy*, jealous, keen, mercenary, piggish*, prehensile, rapacious, ravenous, selfish …

    New thesaurus

  • 6covetous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ longing to possess something. DERIVATIVES covetously adverb covetousness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7covetous — [kuv′ət əs] adj. [ME coveitous < OFr] tending to covet; greedy; avaricious SYN. GREEDY covetously adv. covetousness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8covetous — adjective Date: 13th century 1. marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another s possessions 2. having a craving for possession < covetous of power > • covetously adverb • covetousness noun Synonyms …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9covetous — [[t]kʌ̱vɪtəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) A covetous person has a strong desire to possess something, especially something that belongs to another person. [FORMAL] Even here a red Lamborghini Diablo sports car attracts covetous stares …

    English dictionary

  • 10covetous — adj. covetous of * * * [ kʌvɪtəs] covetousof …

    Combinatory dictionary