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aviditas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word aviditas

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (avidus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [aˈwɪ.dɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [aˈviː.di.tas][1]

Forms

aviditās f (genitive aviditātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from avidus “eager, greedy” with the suffix -tās.[2][1][3] ⟨Avidus⟩ is from aveō “to desire”, which de Vaan traces to Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-eh₁- (“to enjoy, consume”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan's first source is Plautus, whom Köbler dates c. 250–184 BC.[4][5] The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of greed.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant covetousness, greed, as in Cicero, and an appetite for food or drink in Celsus.[2] Varro used it for an ardent desire, and Cicero has aviditās legendī “a passion for reading”.[2][6]

British Medieval Latin used it for greed and passionate desire, as in Anselm.[7] It survives in Italian avidità and French avidité, and gave English avidity in the mid-15th century, “eagerness, zeal”.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of greed.[2][5]
  • 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of appetite.[2][5]
  • mid-15th century – English avidity is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Covetousness, greed.[2]
  2. Appetite, hunger.[2]
  3. Ardent desire, avidity.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Aviditas.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/aviditas. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·