voraciousness
|vo-ra-cious-ness|
/vəˈreɪʃəsnəs/
insatiable appetite
Etymology
'voraciousness' originates from Latin, specifically the adjective 'vorax' and the verb 'vorare', where 'vorare' meant 'to devour' (root 'vor-' meaning 'to swallow/devour').
'voraciousness' changed from the Late Latin/Medieval Latin adjective 'vorax' (from 'vorare') into the English adjective 'voracious' and later formed the noun 'voraciousness' by adding the suffix '-ness'.
Initially, it meant 'eating or devouring eagerly', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having an insatiable appetite or eagerness' that can apply beyond food (e.g., for knowledge, resources, activity).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of having an extremely strong appetite for food; greedy eating.
His voraciousness at the dinner table surprised everyone.
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Noun 2
an insatiable eagerness to consume or acquire non-food things (e.g., knowledge, books, information).
Her voraciousness for new ideas made her read widely across disciplines.
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Noun 3
a consuming or excessive demand for resources or attention (used figuratively, e.g., for machines, programs, or organizations).
The voraciousness of the new application caused the system to slow down.
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Last updated: 2025/12/22 20:03