Avarice Meaning
/ˈævəɹɪs/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounExcessive or inordinate desire of gain; greed for wealth
nounInordinate desire for some supposed good.
Sentence Examples
Young men are apt to fall a victim to their own avarice.
My friends are my estate. Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His relentless ____ for wealth led him to cheat his own family members out of their inheritance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The king's extreme ____ led him to tax his poor people much too heavily.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-eh₁yeti Latin aveō Latin avārus Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin -itia Latin avāritiabor. Old French avaricebor. Middle English avarice English avarice From Middle English avarice, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, from avārus (“greedy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise, it serves to vivify and invigorate the channels of industry, and to make them flow with greater activity and copiousness."
— 1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number XII”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
His relentless ____ for wealth led him to cheat his own family members out of their inheritance.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The king's extreme ____ led him to tax his poor people much too heavily.