avidity
|a-vid-i-ty|
/əˈvɪdɪti/
intense desire / eagerness
Etymology
'avidity' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'aviditas', where the root 'avidus' meant 'eager, greedy'.
'avidity' changed from the Latin word 'aviditas' and via Old/French forms such as 'avidité' was borrowed into English as 'avidity' (modern form).
Initially it meant 'eagerness' or 'greed' in Latin, and over time it has kept the core idea of 'intense desire' but acquired both neutral/positive ('eagerness') and negative ('greed') nuances in modern English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
intense eagerness or enthusiasm for something (positive or neutral).
His avidity for learning led him to take extra courses every semester.
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Noun 2
a greedy or insatiable desire (often negative, implying voracity or avarice).
The investor's avidity for profit sometimes blinded him to ethical concerns.
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Last updated: 2025/12/02 14:04