Covetously: meaning, definitions and examples

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covetously

 

[ ˈkʌvɪtəsli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

desire behavior

Covetously describes an intense desire for something that belongs to someone else. It often implies envy or a longing for an item, quality, or situation, suggesting a longing that is almost greedy in nature. The term highlights the feeling of wanting what one cannot have, emphasizing the struggle between moral ethics and personal desires. This word is commonly used in literature to depict characters who are envious or overly desirous of others' possessions.

Synonyms

desirously, enviously, greedily

Examples of usage

  • He looked at her luxurious car covetously.
  • She spoke covetously of her friend's beautiful house.
  • They gazed covetously at the extravagant jewelry displayed in the window.

Translations

Translations of the word "covetously" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cobiçoso

🇮🇳 लालच से

🇩🇪 gierig

🇮🇩 dengan hasrat

🇺🇦 жадібно

🇵🇱 pożądliwie

🇯🇵 羨望して

🇫🇷 avec convoitise

🇪🇸 codiciosamente

🇹🇷 açgözlüce

🇰🇷 탐내며

🇸🇦 بشغف

🇨🇿 zalostně

🇸🇰 závidením

🇨🇳 贪婪地

🇸🇮 zavidljivo

🇮🇸 ágirnd

🇰🇿 құмарлықпен

🇬🇪 სილამაზით

🇦🇿 həsrətlə

🇲🇽 codiciosamente

Word origin

The word 'covetously' originates from the Middle English term 'coveitous', which derived from the Old French 'coveitier', meaning 'to desire greatly'. This Old French word is rooted in the Latin 'cupiditas', meaning 'desire or longing', closely related to 'cupidus', which means 'eager, desirous'. Historically, the concept of coveting has often been linked to moral and ethical discussions, particularly in religious contexts, where it is seen as a form of greed or unethical desire. In many religious texts, coveting is discouraged as it can lead to negative actions motivated by envy. Over time, 'covetously' became an adverb used to describe actions infused with this strong, often morally questionable, desire.