Avarice (noun)
av-ar-is
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Middle English from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avarus ‘greedy’.
Example sentences
The problem was he was driven by avarice, not morals or human kindness.”
Homiletic (adj) hom-il-et-ik Of the nature of or characteristic of a homily (sermon or lecture). Mid 17th century via late Latin from Greek homilētikos, from homilein ‘converse with, consort’, from…
Calumny (noun) kal-um-nee The making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander./A false and slanderous statement. Late Middle English from Latin calumnia. (more…)
Auspicious (adj) aw-spi-shus Conducive to success; favourable. Late 16th century from auspice (A divine token) + -ous. (more…)
Inaugurate (verb) in-or-gu-rayt Begin or introduce (a system, policy, or period) Admit (someone) formally to office. Late 16th century from Latin inaugurat- ‘interpreted as omens (from the flight of birds)’,…
Proach (verb) (archaic) pr-o-ch To approach, come near. Late Middle English; earliest use found in Henry Lovelich (fl. 1450), poet. Aphetic from approach. (more…)
Scantily (adverb) skan-til-ee In a way that is small or insufficient in quantity or amount. (more…)
Whimsical (adj) wim-sik-al Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. (more…)
Obeisance (noun) o-bees-ans Deferential respect. Late Middle English (in the sense ‘obedience’): from Old French obeissance, from obeissant ‘obeying’, present participle of obeir. (more…)
Wanton (adj) won-tun (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked. (dated) Sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships (typically used of a woman). Middle English wantowen ‘rebellious,…