ăvārĭtĭa, ae, f. [avarus], a greedy desire for possessions, greediness, avarice, covetousness (opp. abstinentia, Suet. Dom. 9; periphrastically, pecuniae cupiditas, id. Vesp. 16; syn.: aviditas, cupido).
- I. Lit.: Est autem avaritia opinatio vehemens de pecuniā, quasi valde expetenda sit, inhaerens et penitus insita, Cic. Tusc. 4, 11, 26: avaritia est injuriosa appetitio alienorum, Auct. ad Her. 4, 25: avaritiam si tollere voltis, mater ejus est tollenda luxuries, Cic. de Or. 2, 40, 171: avaritia hians et imminens, a gaping and eager avarice, id. Verr. 2, 2, 54: pueris talorum nucumque avaritia est: viris auri argentique et urbium, Sen. Const. 12: avaritiae (sc. nimiae parsimoniae) singulos increpans, Suet. Calig. 39 et saep.
In plur.: omnes avaritiae, every kind of selfishness, Cic. Fin. 4, 27, 75.
- II. Transf., of eagerness for food, gluttony: Quam siquis avidus poscit escam avariter, Decipitur in transennā avaritia sua, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 13.
Trop.: avaritia gloriae, eager desire for renown or glory, Curt. 9, 2.