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Webster 1913 Edition

Covetous

Cov′et-ous

(k?v′?t-?s)
,
Adj.
[OF.
coveitos
, F.
convoiteux
. See
Covet
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
Very desirous; eager to obtain; – used in a good sense.
[Archaic]
Covetous
of wisdom and fair virtue.
Shakespeare
Covetous
death bereaved us all,
To aggrandize one funeral.
Emerson.
2.
Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; – in a bad sense.
Syn. – Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See
Avaricious
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Covetous

COVETOUS

,
Adj.
1.
Very desirous; eager to obtain; in a good sense; as covetous of wisdom, virtue or learning.
2.
Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; directed to money or goods, avaricious.
A bishop must not be covetous. 1 Timothy 3.

Definition 2025

covetous

covetous

English

Adjective

covetous ‎(comparative more covetous, superlative most covetous)

  1. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (especially money); avaricious.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:greedy

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • covetous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • covetous in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Etymology

From Middle English coveitous, from Anglo-Norman *cuveitus, from Medieval Latin as if *cupiditosus, from Latin cupiditas ‎(“desire”); see covet.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: kŭv'ət-əs, IPA(key): /ˈkʌvətəs/

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