ravenousnessn.

1564 A. Golding tr. Justinus Hist. Trogus Pompeius xxxviii. f. 146 The greedie rauenousnesse of their Proconsultes [sic].

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xxiv. 147 The rauenousnes and greedie feeding of this beast.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. lxxvii. 156 To defend their own estates from the ravinousness of these Harpyes.

1678 J. P. tr. J. Johnstone Descr. Nature Four-footed Beasts iii. vi. 70/2 The Wolf the Latines call Lupus, or Leopus, or Lion-footed. The Greeks Lukos, from his ravenousnesse.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 224 [The treasure] was by the impatient ravenousness of the English lost.

1790 tr. J.-B.-B. de Lesseps Trav. Kamtschatka II. 253 I could not restrain my tears on perceiving the ravenousness of these poor creatures.

1848 E. C. Gaskell Mary Barton I. iii. 34 Hungry himself, almost to an animal pitch of ravenousness..he stood at one of the shop windows where all edible luxuries are displayed.

1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors I. vi. 103 Even the best of women, even the most beautiful,..have this gross ravenousness for facts.

1911 tr. J. Verne Robur Conqueror in Wks. XIV. xvii. 106 A basket with some food and five pints of coffee descended towards them. The mate with difficulty restrained them in their ravenousness.

1959 A. Nin Ladders to Fire 91 She threw everything into the jaws of his desire and hunger... She gathered all to feed his ravenousness.

1997 Ottawa Citizen 30 Nov. 16 The ravenousness with which we all devour this stray newspaper shows the extent of our isolation.