covetousness

From Middle English covatusnes, covetousnes, coveytousnesse; equivalent to covetous +‎ -ness.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʌvətəsnəs/

covetousness (usually uncountable, plural covetousnesses)

1. Immoderate desire for the possession of something, especially for wealth.
   • 1588, Jean La Placette, Of the Incurable Scepticism of the Church of Rome:

     He which will yield to Fear. muſt neceſſarily yield to Covetouſneſs or any inordinate Deſire.

   • 1661, J. Johnson, The morning-exercise at Cripple-gate:

     Covetouſneſs is the yelow Jaundice of the foul, which ariſes from the over-flowing of the heart with love to yellow gold, by which a Chriſtian is dull'd and deadned.

   • 1815, Samuel Lavington, Sermons and other discourses, Volume 1:

     Covetousness prevents all good, and is and inlet and encouragement to evil.

   • 1976, Jacques Ellul, The Ethics of Freedom, page 134:

     In obvious compensation and opposition the fear of nothingness becomes the source of covetousness...

• See also Thesaurus:greed