ETYM French avaritia, from avarus avaricious, prob. from avęre to covet, from a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Greek amenai, asai, to satiate, Skr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.
1. Extreme greed for material wealth; SYN. avariciousness, covetousness, cupidity.
2. Reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins); SYN. greed, covetousness, rapacity, avaritia.