aurivorous
|au-ri-vo-rous|
🇺🇸
/ɔːˈrɪvərəs/
🇬🇧
/ɔːˈrɪv(ə)rəs/
gold-eating; greedy for wealth
Etymology
'aurivorous' originates from New Latin, combining the Latin element 'auri-' from 'aurum' meaning 'gold' and the Latin suffix '-vorous' from 'vorare' meaning 'to devour'.
'aurivorous' was formed in modern English from New Latin coinage using the Latin roots 'auri-' + '-vorus/ -vorous' and entered English as a learned adjective (rare/technical and later figurative) in the 19th–20th century.
Initially, it referred literally to organisms or things that 'devour gold'; over time it has also been used figuratively to describe extreme greed or acquisitiveness toward wealth.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
feeding on or consuming gold (literally).
The old tale told of an aurivorous beast that swallowed coins and nuggets whole.
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Adjective 2
figuratively, excessively greedy for wealth; acquisitive or rapacious.
Many critics described the company's aurivorous acquisition strategy as harmful to small competitors.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 07:38