avarice

Where does the word "avarice" come from? It comes from Latin avarus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Avarice’s story begins in Latin: avarus meant “greedy, covetous.” One of the seven deadly sins, 'avaritia'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as avarice. Carried into French for extreme greed for wealth. It reached English by 1200s as avarice. Settled as the English word for an extreme, insatiable desire for wealth. Today, avarice means an extreme and insatiable desire for wealth or gain.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient avarus "greedy, covetous", one of the seven deadly sins, 'avaritia'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval avarice "extreme greed for wealth", carried into French for extreme greed for wealth.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s avarice "an extreme, insatiable desire for wealth", settled as the English word for an extreme, insatiable desire for wealth.