cov·et·ous

(kŭv′ĭ-təs)

adj.

Feeling, expressing, or characterized by a strong or immoderate desire for the possessions of another: "At least three European empires had extended covetous gazes toward the Pacific Northwest" (David A. Bell).

cov′et·ous·ly adv.

cov′et·ous·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

covetous

(ˈkʌvɪtəs)

adj

(and foll by: of) jealously eager for the possession of something (esp the property of another person)

ˈcovetously adv

ˈcovetousness, covetiveness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cov•et•ous

(ˈkʌv ɪ təs)

adj.

1. inordinately desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.

2. eagerly desirous.

[1250–1300]

cov′et•ous•ly, adv.

cov′et•ous•ness, n.

syn: See avaricious.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	covetous - showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages; "he was never covetous before he met her"; "jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions"; "envious of their art collection" envious, jealous desirous, wishful - having or expressing desire for something; "desirous of high office"; "desirous of finding a quick solution to the problem"
	2.	covetous - immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth; "they are avaricious and will do anything for money"; "casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields"; "a grasping old miser"; "grasping commercialism"; "greedy for money and power"; "grew richer and greedier"; "prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees" avaricious, grabby, grasping, greedy, prehensile acquisitive - eager to acquire and possess things especially material possessions or ideas; "an acquisitive mind"; "an acquisitive society in which the craving for material things seems never satisfied"

covetous

adjective envious, jealous, yearning, greedy, acquisitive, rapacious, avaricious His sports car was attracting covetous stares.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

covetous

adjective

1. Resentfully or painfully desirous of another's advantages:

envious, green-eyed, invidious, jealous.

2. Having a strong urge to obtain or possess something, especially material wealth, in quantity:

acquisitive, avaricious, avid, grasping, greedy, hungry.

Informal: grabby.

Translations

طَمّـاع، مُشَتـهِ

chamtivýprahnoucí

begærliggrisk

begehrlichrangig

avide

ágjarn

avido

gıpta edenimrenen

贪婪的

covetous

[ˈkʌvɪtəs] ADJ [person] → codicioso; [glance] → ávido

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

covetous

[ˈkʌvɪtəs] adj (= envious) [person, glance] → envieux/euse

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

covetous

adj → begehrlich; to be covetous of something (liter) → etw begehren

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

covetous

[ˈkʌvɪtəs] adj → avido/a, bramoso/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

covet

(ˈkavit) – past tense past participle ˈcoveted – verb

to desire or wish for eagerly (especially something belonging to someone else). I coveted her fur coat.

ˈcovetous adjective

ˈcovetously adverb

ˈcovetousness noun

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Such an one is sure to be temperate and the reverse of covetous; for the motives which make another man desirous of having and spending, have no place in his character.

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Nay more, there are some foolish rich covetous men, that take a pride, in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer.

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how each of thy virtues is covetous of the highest place; it wanteth thy whole spirit to be ITS herald, it wanteth thy whole power, in wrath, hatred, and love.

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Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life, and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you.

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The barber told him he could manage it properly without any instruction, and as he did not care to dress himself up until they were near where Don Quixote was, he folded up the garments, and the curate adjusted his beard, and they set out under the guidance of Sancho Panza, who went along telling them of the encounter with the madman they met in the Sierra, saying nothing, however, about the finding of the valise and its contents; for with all his simplicity the lad was a trifle covetous.

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All these visits were for the purpose of hearing the reading of Porthos's will, announced for that day, and at which all the covetous friends of the dead man were anxious to be present, as he had left no relations behind him.

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was covetous, Louis XIII., his son, was so likewise; we know something of that, don't we?

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To the young and wild nobles, he held out the prospect of unpunished license and uncontrolled revelry; to the ambitious, that of power, and to the covetous, that of increased wealth and extended domains.

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They were not only opinionative, peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which never descended below their grandchildren.

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Kennedy took his customary place, and Joe followed, but not without casting a covetous glance at the treasures in the ravine.

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The house in which Mademoiselle Cormon lived, build in Henri IV.'s time, by Pierre Cormon, the steward of the last Duc d'Alencon, had always belonged to the family; and among the old maid's visible possessions this one was particularly stimulating to the covetous desires of the two old lovers.

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You must not be surprised if I cast a covetous eye on your cream and butter.

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