[cov.et.ous] adj (13c) 1: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions
2: having a craving for possession "~ of power" -- cov.et.ous.ly adv -- cov.et.ous.ness n syn covetous, greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for esp. material possessions. covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions "covetous of his brother's country estate". greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire "greedy for status symbols". acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep "an eagerly acquisitive mind". grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means "a hard grasping trader who cheated the natives". avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness esp. of money and strongly suggests stinginess "an avaricious miser".