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desire. [R.] When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. Shak.

An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity. To desire money for its own sake, and in order to hoard it up, is avarice. Beattie.

nor the extreme caution or closeness of Tiberius. Bacon. An affectation of closeness and covetousness. Addison.

Eager or inordinate desire, especially for wealth; greed of gain; avarice; covetousness. With the feelings of political distrust were mingled those of cupidity and envy, as the Spaniard saw the fairest provinces of the south still in the hands of the accursed race of Ishmael. Prescott.

penalty. [Obs.] See In one's danger, below. You stand within his danger, do you not Shak. Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in dangerof this statute. Robynson (More's Utopia).

lly an inordinate or sinful desire, as for the gratification of the sexual appetite or of covetousness; -- often with after. Whatsoever thy soul lusteth after. Deut. xii. 15. Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matt. v. 28. The spirit that dwelleth in u…

Covetousness; niggardliness; avarice. [Obs.]

of bitter in the medicine. Also used figuratively. So quickly they have taken a smack in covetousness. Robynson (More's Utopia). They felt the smack of this world. Latimer.

untry, and keeps the poor from starving. Then he tameth his stacks of corn, which not his covetousness, but providence, hath reserved for time of need. Fuller.

ality of being worldly; a predominant passion for obtaining the good things of this life; covetousness; addictedness to gain and temporal enjoyments; worldly-mindedness.

To move with short, quick contortions; to move by twisting and squirming; like a worm. Covetousness will wriggle itself out at a small hole. Fuller. Wriggling his body to recover His seat, and cast his right leg over. Hudibras.