| 释义 |
covetous, a.|ˈkʌvɪtəs|
Forms: 4 cou-, coveitus, -aitus, -eytous, -aytous, -etus, -aitous, 4–5 cou-, coveitous, -atus, 4–6 -etous(e, 5 cou-, coveitose, -etows(e, -ettus, cowatouss, 6 covetuous, -teous, 4– covetous.
[a. OF. coveitus, -os (in 13th c. covoiteus, later convoiteux) = Pr. cobeitos, cubitos:—L. *cupidit-ōsus, f. cupiditās (cf. calamitōsus from calamitās): see cupidity and -ous.]
1. Having an ardent or excessive desire of (or † for) anything; eagerly desirous to do, have, or be.
a1300Cursor M. 25802 (Cott.) Þou man þou has ben to couetus, Abote werlds wining fuus. a1300Floriz & Bl. 367 Whanne þu lest him þe cupe iseo..He wile be wel coveitus. 1393Gower Conf. III. 180 Of gold to ben to covetous. c1450Merlin 654 Desirous to Iuste and covetouse to do chiualrie. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, iv. iii. 24 By Ioue, I am not couetous for Gold. 1602Marston Ant. & Mel. i. Wks. 1856 I. 14 How covetous thou art of novelties! 1633J. Done Hist. Septuagint 140 How he might be made covetous to heare many things. 1699Ld. Reay in Pepys' Diary VI. 191 The acquaintance of this man, of which I am very covetous. 1782Cowper Table Talk 75 Covetous only of a virtuous praise. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 189 As covetous of power and as impatient of restraint as any of the Stuarts.
b. Of actions: Eager.
1652Wharton tr. Rothman's Chirom. Wks. (1683) 557 A more Covetous and diligent search.
2. Culpably or inordinately desirous of gaining wealth or possessions; esp. of that which belongs to another or to which one has no right; greedy, grasping, avaricious.
a1300Cursor M. 23750 (Cott.) Þe flexs es ai to filthes fus, Þe werld nithful and couatus. 1340Ayenb. 80 Þe proude zekþ þing worþssipuol. Þe couaytous þing uremuol. 1382Wyclif 1 Tim. iii. 3 It bihoueth a byschop for to be..not coueitous. c1400Beryn 2245 The Steward is a couetouse man, that long hath desirid A knyff I have in kepeing. 1488Caxton Chast. Goddes Chyld. 69 Ryches encreaseth auaryce in a couetous man. 1551T. Wilson Logike (1580) 22 b, The covetous man..desireth still to have, beyng never content. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretarie ii. (1625) 95 The prodigall and the covetous doe offend alike, for neither doe live as they ought. 1654Whitlock Zootomia 496 Covetous, that is, Ravenous after what is anothers. a1672Wood Life (1848) 113 A covetuous civilian and public notary. 1683tr. Erasmus' Moriae Enc. 79 One is so couetous that he liues poor to dye rich. 1862Ruskin Munera P. (1880) 19 The stronger, shrewder, or more covetous men.
b. Of actions, etc.: Proceeding from cupidity or avarice.
1393Gower Conf. III. 158 The covetouse flatery, Which many a worthy king deceiveth. 1494Fabyan Chron. vi. clxxxvii. 189 Ottho, with this couetous promesse deceyued, etc. 1871R. Ellis Catullus lxiv. 146 They..Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not.
¶ By confusion of endings, it was sometimes written for covetise, covetousness.
a1300Cursor M. 23147 (Gött.) Þe couaitus, for-soth to tell, Has mani saule broght to hell. c1400Destr. Troy 11759 Till he caght was in couetouse, & cumbrit hym seluen. 1468Paston Lett. No. 582. II. 313 The unkyndnesse and covetuse that was shewed me. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 783 For anger and not for covetous, the Protector..spoyled her of al that ever she had. |