Obs. or arch. Forms: 3–5 coueytise, 3–7 (9) cou-, covetise, 3–6 -yse, (4 cou-, covatis(e, -aittiyse, -aittise, -aitis, -aites, -aytise, -aityse, -etis, -etteis, -ettise, -eiteise), 4–5 cou-, covatyse, -aitise, -etys, -eityse, 4–6 -eitise, (5 cou-, coveiteis, -tice, cou-, covytise, -tyce, -tys, -atys, cowatice), 5–7 covetice, (6 couytis, -ytes, -itis, -eytyse, -atyce), 6–7 covetize. [a. OF. coveitise (in 13th c. covoitise, later convoitise), representing a L. type *cupidit-itia for *cupiditia, app. after the types *cupiditāre and *cupiditōsus of vb. and adj.: see COVER, COVETOUS.]
1. Ardent, excessive or inordinate desire; lust. Const. of or inf.
[1292. Britton, I. v. § 11. Pur coveytise del eschete.]
c. 1300. Cursor M., 28627 (Cott. Galba). Ogains pride praier may rise, fastin for flesli couatyse.
c. 1340. Ayenb., 137. Vor asemoche ase þer is an holy prede: alzuo þer is an holy coueytise and an holye enuye.
1382. Wyclif, Dan. xiii. 7. Thei brennyden in the coueitise of hir [Susanne].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 779. The coueytise of eyen folwith the coueytise of the herte.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3842. [Generides] than on al wise To Just had grete couetise.
1508. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 263. No couetyse of ryches shall than greue the body.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 70. The other … pursueth after the slear [slayer] with incredible care and couetise to reuenge.
[1847. Blackw. Mag., LXI. 639/1. Shakspeare … was more actuated by poetical precept and impulse than by any sensual covetise for the venison of old Sir Thomas Lucy.]
b. (with pl.) An inordinate desire, a lust.
c. 1340. Ayenb., 125. Temperance … dret alle þe couaytises of þe wordle.
1388. Wyclif, Ecclus. xviii. 30. Go thou not aftir thi coueitises [1382 lustis].
1534. Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, I. (1540), 21. In suche lyberalyte there is moste commenly annexed a covetyse to robbe and reve by injurye.
2. spec. Inordinate or excessive desire for the acquisition and possession of wealth, etc.; esp. of possessing what belongs to another; = COVETOUSNESS 2.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 46. Þat for couetise art ycome so fer fro þe Est, To wilne oure lutel god.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 27194 (Cott.). Quar pouert or ani couaittise did him to þat sin to rise.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 23. The fyfte dedly syne es couetyse and þat es ane vnmesurabill luffe to haffe erthely gudes.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 203. Coveitise is evere wode, To gripen other folkis gode.
1509. Fisher, Fun. Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 291. Auaryce and couetyse she moost hated.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 689. Nowe if prodigalitye or couetise be vyce.
1615. T. Adams, Blacke Devill, 57. Pride must be turned to humility, covetice to charity.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 355. A Clergy man must not be covetous, much lesse for covetise must he neglect his cure.
a. 1652. Brome, Damoiselle, I. i. Wks. 1873, I. 381. Your sinfull Covetise.
¶ By confusion of endings, it was sometimes written for COVETOUS.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., i. in Ashm. (1652), 17. With promise they please the Covetise … The Covetise is brought to threed-bare clothes.
