I.an eagerness for something (either lawful or unlawful), avidity, longing, vehement desire.
I. In gen.: “habeo senectuti magnam gratiam, quae mihi sermonis aviditatem auxit, potionis et cibi sustulit,” Cic. Sen. 14, 46: “aviditas legendi,” id. Fin. 3, 2, 7: “suscipere verbum cum omni aviditate,” Vulg. Act. 17, 11: “gloriae,” Cic. ad Q. Fr. 1, 1, 16: “pecuniae,” id. Part. Or. 6, 1: “rapiendi per occasionem triumphi,” Liv. 31, 48, 2: “imperandi,” Tac. H. 1, 52: “vini,” Suet. Tib. 42 al.: “ad cibos,” Plin. 20, 16, 65, § 173.—In plur.: “bestiolarum aviditates,” Plin. 11, 6, 5, § 15: “feminarum,” id. 20, 21, 84, § 227.—
II. Esp.
A. Eagerness for money, covetousness, avarice: “Inhaeret etiam aviditas, desidia, injuria, etc.,” Plaut. Merc. prol. 29: “(justitia) eas res spernit et neglegit, ad quas plerique inflammati aviditate rapiuntur,” Cic. Off. 2, 11, 38: “utrumque incredibile est, et Roscium quicquam per aviditatem appetīsse et Fannium quicquam per bonitatem amisisse,” id. Rosc. Com. 7, 21 (B. and K., avaritiam).—
B. Eagerness in eating, appetite: “lactuca in cibis aviditatem incitat inhibetque eadem,” Plin. 20, 7, 26, § 64; so, “aviditatem excitare,” id. 23, 1, 7, § 12: “facere,” id. 23, 8, 75, § 144; Vulg. Eccli. 37, 33.
