ˈkəvə̇t, usu .ə̇d.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English coveiten, from Old French coveitier, from coveitié covetousness, desire, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin cupidietat-, cupidietas, alteration of Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas, from cupidus desirous (from cupere to desire) + -itat-, -itas -ity; akin to Middle High German ver wepfen to become moldy, Icelandic hvap dropsical flesh, Gothic af hwapjan to choke, extinguish, Latin vapor steam, vapor, Greek kapnos smoke, Sanskrit kupyati he swells with rage, is angry; basic meaning: smoking, boiling
transitive verb
1. : to wish for earnestly : crave possession or enjoyment of : long for
winning coveted honors
her invitations came to be coveted by people who were desirous of moving in good society — G.B.Shaw
2. : to desire (another's possession or attribute) inordinately or culpably
neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant — Deut 5:21 (Authorized Version)
this region originally belonged to the Sioux but was coveted for its rich resources by the Chippewa — American Guide Series: Minnesota
intransitive verb
: to feel or cherish inordinate desire or craving for another's possession or attributes
you should be content with what you have … it is a sin to covet — Edna S. V. Millay
— formerly used with for or after
the wealth that many had coveted after was willed to various charities
Synonyms: see desire