cupidity

noun

cu·pid·i·ty kyu̇-ˈpi-də-tē How to pronounce cupidity (audio)

plural cupidities

: inordinate desire for wealth : avarice, greed

the cupidity of the bankers

: strong desire : lust

Did you know?

From its verb "cupere" ("to desire") Latin derived three nouns which have passed with minimal modification into English. Cupiditas meant "yearning and "desire"; English borrowed this as "cupidity," which originally in the 15th century was synonymous with "lust." (The "greed" meaning of "cupidity" developed very soon after this other now-archaic meaning.) Latin cupido started out as a near synonym of "cupiditas," but it came to stand for the personification of specifically carnal desire, the counterpart of Greek eros; this is the source of our familiar (and rather domesticated) Cupid. A strengthened form of "cupere" - concupiscere, meaning "to desire ardently - yielded the noun "concupiscentia" in the Late Latin of the Christian church. "Concupiscentia" came specially to denote sexual desire, a meaning reflected in the English version concupiscence, meaning "sexual desire."

Example Sentences

The evidence revealed the cupidity of the company's directors. reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus's crew

Recent Examples on the Web Call the content misdemeanor populism, representing in each instance the recourse of someone motivated by need or only petty cupidity.

Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 In Williams’s telling, the capitalists turned against slavery out of cupidity rather than humanity.

James Oakes, The New York Review of Books, 23 Mar. 2021 What keeps us from tuning out is the infectious energy of an ensemble that delights in its characters’ displays of cupidity and stupidity, and the storybook ingenuity of the physical production.

Ben Brantley, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2018 And if anyone shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break this truce, by the authority of God and with the sanction of this Council he shall be anathematized.

James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2017 The cupidity of the government and white real estate developers leaves working-class locals, women especially, with few options.

Jennifer Senior, New York Times, 29 June 2016 Cupidity and corruption perform, year after year, their reverse magic.

Dwight Garner, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2016 See More

单词	cupidity
释义	cupidity noun cu·pid·i·ty kyu̇-ˈpi-də-tē plural cupidities 1 : inordinate desire for wealth : avarice, greed the cupidity of the bankers 2 : strong desire : lust Did you know? From its verb "cupere" ("to desire") Latin derived three nouns which have passed with minimal modification into English. Cupiditas meant "yearning and "desire"; English borrowed this as "cupidity," which originally in the 15th century was synonymous with "lust." (The "greed" meaning of "cupidity" developed very soon after this other now-archaic meaning.) Latin cupido started out as a near synonym of "cupiditas," but it came to stand for the personification of specifically carnal desire, the counterpart of Greek eros; this is the source of our familiar (and rather domesticated) Cupid. A strengthened form of "cupere" - concupiscere, meaning "to desire ardently - yielded the noun "concupiscentia" in the Late Latin of the Christian church. "Concupiscentia" came specially to denote sexual desire, a meaning reflected in the English version concupiscence, meaning "sexual desire." Synonyms acquisitiveness avarice avariciousness avidity avidness covetousness graspingness greed greediness mercenariness rapaciousness rapacity See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The evidence revealed the cupidity of the company's directors. reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus's crew Recent Examples on the Web Call the content misdemeanor populism, representing in each instance the recourse of someone motivated by need or only petty cupidity. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 In Williams’s telling, the capitalists turned against slavery out of cupidity rather than humanity. James Oakes, The New York Review of Books, 23 Mar. 2021 What keeps us from tuning out is the infectious energy of an ensemble that delights in its characters’ displays of cupidity and stupidity, and the storybook ingenuity of the physical production. Ben Brantley, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2018 And if anyone shall be led by his cupidity or arrogance to break this truce, by the authority of God and with the sanction of this Council he shall be anathematized. James Carroll, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2017 The cupidity of the government and white real estate developers leaves working-class locals, women especially, with few options. Jennifer Senior, New York Times, 29 June 2016 Cupidity and corruption perform, year after year, their reverse magic. Dwight Garner, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2016 See More Word History Etymology Middle English cupidite, from Anglo-French cupidité, from Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas — more at covet First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 cupidity noun as in greed an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions reports of great treasure in the Indies inflamed the cupidity of Columbus's crew Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance greed avarice rapacity greediness avariciousness acquisitiveness rapaciousness desire covetousness avidity thirst appetite hunger avidness materialism mercenariness possessiveness lust longing craving graspingness commercialism gluttony selfishness egoism passion voracity egotism yearning ravenousness hankering pining yen itch drive piggishness self-interest gluttonousness self-centeredness self-regard Antonyms & Near Antonyms satisfaction gratification contentment fulfilment liberality fulfillment magnanimity generosity unselfishness charity altruism largess bounty largesse selflessness bountifulness generousness openheartedness bounteousness openhandedness See More
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cupidity

noun

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun