Avidity
[ə'vɪdəti]
Definition
(n.) Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire; as, to eat with avidity.
Checker: Truman
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Eagerness, longing, yearning, intense desire.[2]. Greediness, craving, voracity, rapacity, voraciousness, ravenousness, canine appetite.
Typist: Ruth
Definition
n. eagerness: greediness.—adj. Av′id greedy: eager.
Edited by Alta
Examples
- The avidity, the _alieni appetens_[10] is the same; it is the fear of the gallows that makes the difference. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- A little more, St. John--look at the avidity in her eyes. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- It was a revenue, too, of a nature to excite in human avidity the most extravagant expectation of still greater riches. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an appearance of avidity which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- She poured out a cup, and drank it with a frightful avidity, which seemed desirous of draining the last drop in the goblet. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- I wish he could have witnessed the horrible avidity with which Oliver tore the bits asunder with all the ferocity of famine. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- My active mind, when once it seized upon this new idea, fastened on it with extreme avidity. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- The great profits of the Venetians tempted the avidity of the Portuguese. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The servant obeyed; few words were spoken on either side; but those were caught at with avidity by the intended victim. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- The avidity, however, which suggested this notable piece of mercantile ingenuity, most probably disappointed itself of its object. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- They were read with avidity, and soon translated into different languages. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- It was accepted with avidity and with thanks. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Close beside him stood Charlotte, opening oysters from a barrel: which Mr. Claypole condescended to swallow, with remarkable avidity. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- I did not take hold of my studies with avidity, in fact I rarely ever read over a lesson the second time during my entire cadetship. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Their avidity, however, upon this, as well as upon many other occasions, disappointed itself of its object. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
Editor: Philip