av·a·rice \ˈavərə̇s, rap. -vr-\noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avarus avaricious, from avēre to covet, long for — more at avid : excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : greediness, cupidity < they scrimped and stinted and starved themselves … out of avarice and the will-to-power — Lewis Mumford > Synonyms:see cupidity