peti-, pet-, -pit-

(Latin: to aim at, aim for, go toward; to seek, seek out, ask, request; strive after)

Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. (Latin)
Translation: "For the perpetual remembrance of the thing."

These words are traditionally used to open papal bulls.

appetence (s) (noun), appetences (pl)
1. A natural craving, desire, or longing for someone or something.
2. A natural or instinctive inclination to do something.
3. In chemistry, an attraction or an affinity.
appetency (s) (noun), appetencies (pl)
1. A fixed and strong desire; especially, a natural desire; a craving; an eager appetite: Ralph was listening to a man who talked about his appetency to consume as much alcohol and food as he could obtain, despite the fact that he didn't have a job to pay for his appetencies.
2. An instinctive inclination or propensity in animals to perform certain actions: There are appetencies of creatures; for example, in the young to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into water and to swim, and the tendency of an organism to seek what satisfies its food cravings.
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appetent (adjective), more appetent, most appetent
A reference to an instinctive inclination or natural tendency for something; eagerly desirous.
appetently (adverb), more appetently, most appetently
A descriptive term for wanting something very much or a reference to being eagerly desirous of something: "The football team was working very hard to be ready for the final game because they appetently wanted to be the champions of the league."
appetite (s) (noun), appetites (pl)
1. An instinctive physical desire, especially one for food or drink.
2. A strong desire or craving for food.
3. A strong wish or urge; such as, having an appetite for learning vocabulary.
4. A feeling of being very interested in something or of wanting it very much.
5. Etymology: "craving for food", from Anglo-French appetit; Old French apetit, from Latin appetitus, "appetite"; literally, "a desire toward"; from appetitus, past participle of appetere, "to long for, to desire"; from ad-, "to" + petere, "to go to, to seek out".

See nappetite on page three of this unit for a related word.

appetitive (adjective), more appetitive, most appetitive
An instinctive physical desire, as for food or other cravings; such as, money or success.
appetize (noun), appetizes; appetized; appetizing
To make hungry or to awaken a craving for something: It was near noon time when Bruce and Susan passed a bakery where the smell of newly baked bread and pastries whetted or appetized their longing for food!
appetizers (noun), appetizers (pl)
1. A small dish of food or drink served at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the appetite; usually, served before the main part of a meal or as the first course.
2. A sample of something that is meant to stimulate an interest.
3. Mainly in the U.S., the first part of a meal: "The menu showed what the average cost of a full three-course meal would be; including an appetizer, the main course, and the dessert."
appetizingly (adverb), more appetizingly, most appetizingly
A reference to appealing to or stimulating the appetite; especially, in appearance or aroma.
compete (verb), competes; competed; competing
1. To strive against another or others to win a desired goal or to achieve a desired result, such as an advantage or a victory.
2. To be able to do as well as or better than others.
3. To contend (against) for profit, an award, athletic supremacy, etc.
4. Etymology: from Middle French compéter, "to be in rivalry with"; or directly from Late Latin competere, "to strive in common"; in classical Latin, "to come together, to agree, to be qualified"; later, "to strive together" from com-, "together" + petere, "to strive, to seek, to fall upon, to rush at, to attack".

When runners compete for a prize, they seek it together.

competence (s) (noun), competences (pl)
1. The quality of being competent; adequacy; possession of required skill, knowledge, qualification, or capacity: "He hired her because of her competence as a secretary."
2. The state or quality of being adequately or well qualified; having the ability to achieve tasks or assignments successfully.
3. A specific range of skill, knowledge, or ability.
competency to stand trial
The ability of a defendant to understand the nature of the charges against him or her, to distinguish between pleas of guilty and not guilty, and to prepare a defense, to instruct counsel, and to challenge a juror.

In the United Kingdom, fitness to plead is the corresponding expression for this term.

competent (adjective), more competent, most competent
1. Properly or sufficiently qualified; being capable; such as, she is a competent typist.
2. Adequate for a purpose or having enough skill or ability to do something well, but often not considered outstanding.
3. Having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified.
4. In law, legally qualified or fit to perform an act or to do something; such as, he was judged competent to stand trial.
5. Etymology: "suitable", from Old French competent, "sufficient, appropriate, suitable"; from Latin competentem, competens; from competere, "to coincide, to agree".
competently (adverb), more competently, most competently
1. Referring to having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully.
2. Characterized by doing something in a competent manner, with adequate skill, or with sufficient knowledge, ability, or qualifications.