covetousness
UK[ˈkʌv.ɪ.təs.nəs]US[ˈkʌv.ə.t̬əs.nəs]
n
The feeling of having a strong desire for something, especially for something that belongs to someone else.
Morpheme Breakdown
covet
ous
ness
covet
to desire
ous
adjective suffix
ness
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'covetousness' charts a journey from a concrete Latin verb to an abstract English noun describing a state of mind. Its foundation is the Latin verb 'cupere', meaning 'to desire or long for', which is also the source of 'cupidity'. This root passed into Old French as 'covetier', entering Middle English as 'coveten'. The adjectival suffix '-ous', from Latin '-osus' (full of), was added to form 'covetous', meaning 'full of desire'. Finally, the native English suffix '-ness', used to denote a state or quality, was appended to create the abstract noun. Thus, the word's literal construction—'the state of being full of desire'—perfectly encapsulates its modern meaning of an intense, often envious, longing for what others possess.
Analysis
Structure: covet (to desire) + ous (adjective suffix) + ness (noun suffix)
- covet: From Old French 'covetier', based on Latin 'cupiditas' (desire). The core root is the Latin verb 'cupere', meaning 'to desire'.
- ous: A suffix of Latin origin (-osus) used to form adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'.
- ness: A noun-forming suffix of Old English origin, used to create abstract nouns indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
His covetousness for his neighbor's new car was painfully obvious.
The sermon warned against the sins of greed and covetousness.
She felt a pang of covetousness when she saw her friend's luxurious vacation photos.