avari-

1. An insatiable greed for riches or a miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth: There are some people who are convinced that the corporate world consists of people who have a strong urge for avarice and power.
2. An excessive desire for gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity: Paul's avarice apparently led him into unethical business deals.
3. Etymology: via French from Latin avaritia, "greedy"; from avere, "to desire". © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. Characterized by an extremely strong desire to obtain and to keep material wealth: The avaricious nature of the miser was revealed when someone saw him counting his large amount of money.
2. Descriptive of a greed for material gain or extreme desires for accumulating property: The personable young man seemed motivated by an avaricious desire to please people for the sake of the material rewards he would receive. © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
for a list of additional Mickey Bach illustrations.

1. Covetously; with an inordinate desire of gaining wealth: The head of the investment company avariciously made people think that they would be gaining big profits if they invested in his fund.
2. Characterizing how a person does something in a greedy manner: Shareen avariciously ate as if she were starving which is why she was so overweight.

An extreme desire or greed for material wealth: Paul's father had an avariciousness that resulted in many monetary resources with which he could buy several homes in different parts of the nation and even in other countries.

An economic phenomenon: Avarism is what results when greed is added to businesses.

The exchange of funds for goods defines capitalism; while the love of money for its own sake defines avarism.

Those with wealth often support the hoarding of assets into hedge funds, insider trading, market manipulation and the purchase of politicians who pass legislation written by and for big business; so, such avarisms are what pass for capitalism today and although they may have made America great in the past, they are now destroying America.

1. Someone who has an excessive desire for material gain and greediness for all kinds of wealth: Fay's husband was an avartist who was able to become a billionaire; however, since he couldn't take his wealth with him, his wife inherited his fortune.
2. A person who has an uncontrolled desire for almost anything; including, food, drink, money, or emotional gratifications: Glen is an avarist who likes to help people whenever he can because he always expects to receive praise for whatever he does for them.

Translation: "He that loveth silver will not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase."

From the Old Testament: Ecclesiastes, V, 10 (c. 250 B.C.). It is probably the origin of "The More he has, the more he wants."

It is said that the multimillionaire, John D. Rockefeller, was once asked, "How much money does it take to make a man happy?" His response: "Just a little more!"

Translation: "A greedy man is always in need."

Also: "Avarice, or greed, is never satisfied."