a. 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25802 (Cott.). Þou man þou has ben to couetus, Abote werlds wining fuus.
a. 1300. Floriz & Bl., 367. Whanne þu lest him þe cupe iseo … He wile be wel coveitus.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 180. Of gold to ben to covetous.
c. 1450. Merlin, 654. Desirous to Iuste and covetouse to do chiualrie.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. iii. 24. By Ioue, I am not couetous for Gold.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 14. How covetous thou art of novelties!
1633. J. Done, Hist. Septuagint, 140. How he might be made couetous to heare many things?
1699. Ld. Reay, in Pepys’ Diary, VI. 191. The acquaintance of this man, of which I am very covetous.
1782. Cowper, Table Talk, 75. Covetous only of a virtuous praise.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 189. As covetous of power and as impatient of restraint as any of the Stuarts.
b. Of actions: Eager.
1652. Sir G. Wharton, trans. 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23750 (Cott.). Þe flexs es ai to filthes fus, Þe werld nithful and couatus.
1340. Ayenb., 80. Þe proude zekþ þing worþssipuol. Þe couaytous þing uremuol.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. iii. 3. It bihoueth a byschop for to be … not coueitous.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2245. The Steward is a couetouse man, that long hath desirid A knyff I have in kepeing.
1488. Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 69. Ryches encreaseth auaryce in a couetous man.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 22 b. The covetous man … desireth still to have, beyng never content.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretarie, II. (1625), 95. The prodigall and the covetous doe offend alike, for neither doe live as they ought.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 496. Covetous, that is, Ravenous after what is anothers.
a. 1672. Wood, Life (1848), 113. A covetuous civilian and public notary.
1683. trans. Erasmus’ Moriae Enc., 79. One is so couetous that he liues poor to dye rich.
1862. Ruskin, Munera P. (1880), 19. The stronger, shrewder, or more covetous men.
b. Of actions, etc.: Proceeding from cupidity or avarice.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 158. The covetouse flatery, Which many a worthy king deceiveth.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxvii. 189. Ottho, with this couetous promesse deceyued [etc.].
1871. R. 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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23147 (Gött.). Þe couaitus, for-soth to tell, Has mani saule broght to hell.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11759. Till he caght was in couetouse, & cumbrit hym seluen.
1468. Paston Lett., No. 582, II. 313. The unkyndnesse and covetuse that was shewed me.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 783. For anger and not for covetous, the Protector … spoyled her of al that ever she had.
