Acquisitive: meaning, definitions and examples

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acquisitive

 

[ ษ™หˆkwษชz.ษช.tษชv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

desire for wealth

The term 'acquisitive' describes a strong desire to acquire and possess things, particularly wealth, material goods, or information. An acquisitive person is often eager to gather more possessions or knowledge, sometimes to the point of being greedy or insatiable. This behavior can manifest in various contexts, including business, personal relationships, and even in intellectual pursuits. The term is often used to highlight the negative aspects of wanting to possess more than what one needs.

Synonyms

avaricious, greedy, materialistic, possessive

Examples of usage

  • The acquisitive nature of the company led to numerous mergers.
  • His acquisitive mindset made him a successful investor.
  • Many acquisitive individuals struggle with contentment.

Translations

Translations of the word "acquisitive" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น aquisitivo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคงเคฟเค—เฅเคฐเคนเคฃเฅ€เคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช erwerbsorientiert

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ akuisitif

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั€ะธะดะฑะฐะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ akwizytywny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ–ๅพ—็š„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท acquisitif

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ adquisitivo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท edinimci

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํš๋“์ ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุณุชุญูˆุงุฐูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ zรญskรกvacรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zรญskavacรญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่Žทๅ–็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ pridobitven

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รถflugt

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะธะตะปะตะฝัƒัˆั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒจแƒ•แƒ”แƒœแƒ˜แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qazanclฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ adquisitivo

Etymology

The word 'acquisitive' has its roots in the Latin verb 'acquirere,' which means 'to acquire.' This verb is a combination of the prefix 'ad-' meaning 'to' or 'towards' and 'quaerere,' which means 'to seek' or 'to ask.' Over time, the word evolved into the Middle French 'acquisitif' before being absorbed into the English language in the late 19th century. Initially used to describe a general propensity for acquisition, the term gradually took on specific connotations of greed and materialism. In contemporary usage, 'acquisitive' often carries a negative connotation, especially when referring to individuals who are excessively driven by the desire to amass wealth or possessions, reinforcing societal critiques of consumerism.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,710, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.