I.a greedy desire for possessions, greediness, avarice, covetousness (opp. abstinentia, Suet. Dom. 9; “periphrastically, pecuniae cupiditas,” id. Vesp. 16; syn.: aviditas, cupido).
I. Lit.: “Est autem avaritia opinatio vehemens de pecuniā, quasi valde expetenda sit, inhaerens et penitus insita,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 11, 26: avaritia est injuriosa appetitio alienorum, Auct. ad Her. 4, 25: “avaritiam si tollere voltis, mater ejus est tollenda luxuries,” Cic. de Or. 2, 40, 171: “avaritia hians et imminens,” a gaping and eager avarice, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 54: “pueris talorum nucumque avaritia est: viris auri argentique et urbium,” Sen. Const. 12: “avaritiae (sc. nimiae parsimoniae) singulos increpans,” Suet. Calig. 39 et saep.—In plur.: “omnes avaritiae,” every kind of selfishness, Cic. Fin. 4, 27, 75. —