Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Covetousness |
CovetousnessNoun1. An envious eagerness to possess something. 2. Extreme greed for material wealth. 3. Reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins). Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "covetousness" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Bible | Covetousness a strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5; Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10; Matt. 6:20). It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness. Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Synonyms: CovetousnessSynonyms: avarice (n), avariciousness (n), avaritia (n), cupidity (n), greed (n), rapacity (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Greed | Noun: covetousness, ravenousness; Adjective: venality, avidity, cupidity; acquisitiveness (acquisition); desire. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Covetousness |
| Specialty definitions using "covetousness": Letter. (references) |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit |  | Poster, composed of six different images, highlighting behavior that impedes perestroika: drunkenness, laziness, covetousness, bribery, speculation, embezzlement] / Kollektiv avtorov. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Epictetus | Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen. |
Johann Friedrich Von Schiller | Youth covets; let not this covetousness seduce you. |
William Shakespeare | When workmen strive to do better than well, they do confound their skill in covetousness. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | He gave it to the use of the industrious and rational, (and labour was to be his title to it;) not to the fancy or covetousness of the quarrelsome and contentious. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Covetousness" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Covetousness" is used about 24 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 24 | 71,196 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes names derived from the word "covetousness". | |||
| Name | Gender | Language | Meaning |
| Casiphia | N/A | Biblical | Covetousness |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references.
| |||
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
covetousness | 5 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "covetousness"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | begerigheid (alacrity, avidity, eagerness, greediness), begeerte (avidity, desire, eagerness, greediness, want, wish). (various references) | |
Albanian | lakmi (avidity, cupidity, eagerness, envy, gluttony, greed, greediness). (various references) | |
Dutch | graagte (alacrity, appetite, avidity, eagerness, greediness), begerigheid (alacrity, avidity, eagerness, greediness), begeerte (alacrity, avidity, desire, eagerness, greediness, want, wish). (various references) | |
Esperanto | avido (avidity, eagerness, greediness), avideco (avidity, eagerness, greediness). (various references) | |
French | avidité. (various references) | |
German | Begehrlichkeit (concupiscence, greediness). (various references) | |
Greek | απληστία (avidity, cupidity, greed, greediness, ravenousness, voraciousness, voracity). (various references) | |
Hebrew | חמ" ות (avarice, greed, greediness, lustfulness), בצע (avarice, gain, greed, lucre, profit). (various references) | |
Hungarian | pénzsóvárság (greed), kapzsiság (avarice, avidity, greed, greediness, rapacity), bírvágy, bírásvágy, érzéki vágy (concupiscence). (various references) | |
Indonesian | keangkaraan (greed, ruthlessness). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 貪慾 (avarice, greed), 貪欲 (avarice, greed), 貪婪 (greed), 垂涎 (watering at the mouth), 欲深 (avarice, greed), 欲張り (avarice, greed). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | た"ら" (greed), すいぜ" (a drunken face or expression, bleary or drunken eyes, watering at the mouth), ずいぜ" (watering at the mouth), ど"ら" (greed), ど"よく (avarice, greed), よくぶか (avarice, greed), よくふか (avarice, greed), よくばり (avarice, greed). (various references) | |
Manx | sondid (avarice, close-fistedness, closeness, selfishness, sordidness), sheginys (avariciousness), sayntoilaght (lustfulness), saynt (avarice, lust, thirst for knowledge). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ovetousnesscay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | cobiça (alacrity, avidity, greediness, longing, yen), avidez (alacrity, eagerness, greed, greediness, thirst). (various references) | |
Romanian | zgârcenie (avarice, cheese paring, closeness, costiveness, miserabliness, parsimony, skimp, stinginess), sete (craving, itch, itching, lust, thirst), lãcomie (cupidity, gluttony, gourmandize, greed, hoggishness, hunger, rapacity). (various references) | |
Russian | жадность (avarice, avidity, cupidity, edacity, greed, greediness, insatiability, piggishness, rapacity). (various references) | |
Scottish | sannt (desire, greed). (various references) | |
Spanish | deseo (avidity, desideratum, desire, eagerness, greediness, I wish, want, will, wish, yearning). (various references) | |
Swedish | begäran (avidity, demand, desire, eagerness, greediness, obsecration, petition, postulation, request, suit), begär (appetite, avidity, craving, desire, eagerness, greediness, longing, lust, yen). (various references) | |
Turkish | tamahkârlık, hırslı olma, açgözlülük (avarice, avidity, cupidity, gluttony, greed, greediness, insatiability, rapaciousness, rapacity, voracity). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | скупість (cheeseparing, closeness, illiberality, meanness, miserliness, parsimony, tightness), зажерливість (avarice), жадібність (avarice, avidity, bulimy, cupidity, edacity, greediness, rapacity). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | sự thèm muốn (craving, desire, envy, hankering), sự thèm khát (avidity, lushy), sự khao khát sự tham lam. (various references) | |
Welsh | trachwant (avarice, greed, lust). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | concupiscentia. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Mark Chapter 7, Verse 22 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | Klopai pleonexiai ponhriai doloV aselgeia ofqalmoV ponhroV blasfhmia uperhfania afrosunh |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Furta avaritiae nequitiae dolus inpudicitia oculus malus blasphemia superbia stultitia |
| Old English | 990 | West Saxon | Stale. gytsunge. man facnu. scamelest.yfel ge-sihðe. desynysse. ofer-modignessa.stunt-scipe. |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | Fornycaciouns, mansleyingis, theftis, auaricis, wickidnessis, gile, vnchastite, yuel iye, blasfemyes, pride, foli. |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | Theeft coveteousnes wickednes diceyte vnclennes and a wicked eye blasphemy pryde folysshnes: |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | The taking of goods and of life, broken faith between husband and wife, the desire of wealth, wrongdoing, deceit, sins of the flesh, an evil eye, angry words, pride, foolish acts: |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Mark Chapter 7, Verse 22 |
| Cebuano | kaibog, kadautan, limbong, kaulag, kasina, panulti sa pagbuling sa dungog, pagkamapahitas-on, binoang, |
| Croatian | preljubi, lakomstva, opakosti, prijevara, razuzdanost, zlo oko, psovka, uznositost, bezumlje. |
| Danish | Hor, Havesyge, Ondskab, Svig, Uterlighed, et ondt Øje, Forhånelse, Hovmod, Fremfusenhed; |
| Dutch | Dieverijen, gierigheden, boosheden, bedrog, ontuchtigheid, een boos oog, lastering, hovaardij, onverstand. |
| Finnish | aviorikokset, ahneus, häijyys, petollisuus, irstaus, pahansuonti, jumalanpilkka, ylpeys, mielettömyys. |
| French | les vols, les cupidités, les méchancetés, la fraude, le dérèglement, le regard envieux, la calomnie, l`orgueil, la folie. |
| Gaelic | Goid, sannt, drochbheart, foill, mi-gheamnachd, droch-shuil, blaisbheum, uabhar, aimideachd. |
| German | Dieberei, Geiz, Schalkheit, List, Unzucht, Schalksauge, Gotteslästerung, Hoffart, Unvernunft. |
| Hungarian | Lopások, telhetetlenségek, gonoszságok, álnokság, szemérmetlenség, gonosz szem, káromlás, kevélység, bolondság: |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | berzinah, menipu, memfitnah, serta melakukan segala sesuatu yang jahat, menjadi serakah, tidak sopan, iri hati, sombong, dan susah diajar. |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | permukahan, kekikiran, kejahatan, tipu, hawa nafsu jahat, mata jahat, hujat, congkak, kebodohan. |
| Italian | adultèri, cupidigie, malvagit , inganno, impudicizia, invidia, calunnia, superbia, stoltezza. |
| Latvian | Zâdzîbas, mantkârîba, blçdîbas, viltîba, nekaunîba, skaudîga acs, Dieva zaimoðana, lepnîba, vieglprâtîba. |
| Maori | O nga tahae, o nga kohuru, o nga puremu, o nga hiahia apo, o nga kino, o te tinihanga, o te hiahia taikaha, o te kanohi kino, o te kohukohu, o te whakapehapeha, o te wairangi: |
| Norwegian | hor, havesyke, ondskap, svik, skamløshet, ondt øie, bespottelse, overmot, uforstand. |
| Portuguese | a cobiça, as maldades, o dolo, a libertinagem, a inveja, a blasfêmia, a soberba, a insensatez; |
| Rumanian | furtiwagurile, lqcomiile, viclewugurile, knwelqciunile, faptele de ruwine, ochiul rqu, hula, trufia, nebunia. |
| Russian | ЛТБЦЙ, МЙИПЙНУФЧП, ЪМП'Б, ЛПЧБТУФЧП, ОЕ ПФТЕ'УФЧП, ЪБЧЙУФМЙЧПЕ ПЛП, 'ПЗПИХМШУФЧП, ЗПТ"ПУФШ, 'ЕЪХНУФЧП, -- |
| Shuar | kasamkatniusha, chikichna wakeruktincha, pénkercha Túratniusha, anankatniusha, natsantain átincha, yajauch Enentáimtustincha, tsanumpratniusha, waantu Enentáimtumastincha, netse Túratniusha, Ashí nuka initia wininiatsuk. |
| Spanish | los adulterios, las avaricias, las maldades, el engaño, la sensualidad, la envidia, la blasfemia, la insolencia y la insensatez. |
| Swahili | uzinzi, uchoyo, uovu, udanganyifu, ufisadi, wivu, kashfa, kiburi na upumbavu. |
| Swedish | äktenskapsbrott, girighet, ondska, svek, lösaktighet, avund, hädelse, övermod, oförsynt väsende. |
| Uma | mobualo', mebagiu, metipo', pai' mpobabehi wori' nyala to dada'a. Mpokahina anu doo, mohingi', molangko nono, nakeni hina nono to dada'a, uma tuduia'. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "covetousness": covetousnesses. (additional references) | |
| |
"Covetousness" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: convetousness. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| Words rhyming with "covetousness" (pronounced 'Cov"et*ous*ness'): Abjectedness, Abjectness, Ableness, Abominableness, Abortiveness, Abruptness, Absentness, Absoluteness, Absorptiveness, Abstemiousness, Abstersiveness, Abstractedness, Abstractiveness, Abstractness, Abstruseness, Absurdness, Abusiveness, Acceptableness, Accessariness, Accessoriness, Accidentalness, Accommodableness, Accommodateness, Accurateness, Accustomedness, Acidness, Acquaintedness, Acquisitiveness, Acrimoniousness, Activeness, Actualness, Acuteness, Adaptedness, Adaptiveness, Adaptness, Addictedness, Addle-patedness, Adeptness, Adequateness, Adhesiveness, Admirableness, Adorableness, Adroitness, Adultness, Advantageousness, Adventurousness, Adverseness, Advisable-ness, Advisedness, Affableness. (additional references) |
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "c-e-e-n-o-o-s-s-s-t-u-v" | |
-2 letters: countesses. | |
-4 letters: censuses, cestuses, contuses, countess, covetous, cuteness, ecotones, osteoses, stenoses. | |
-5 letters: cenotes, contuse, cossets, ecotone, nostocs, osseous, ostoses, outseen, outsees, scouses, soonest, sunsets, tonuses. | |
| Words containing the letters "c-e-e-n-o-o-s-s-s-t-u-v" | |
+2 letters: covetousnesses. | |
+4 letters: victoriousnesses. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Images: Photo Album | 5. Quotations: Familiar 6. Quotations: Historic 7. Usage Frequency 8. Names: Derived from | 9. Expressions: Internet 10. Translations: Modern 11. Translations: Ancient 12. Bible Trace | 13. Derivations 14. Rhymes 15. Anagrams 16. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
