[syn: greediness, voraciousness, rapaciousness]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rapacious \Ra*pa"cious\ (r[.a]*p[=a]"sh[u^]s), a. [L. rapax,
-acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away.
See Rapid.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by
violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the
rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." --Motley.
[1913 Webster]
2. Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals
seized by violence; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a
rapacious bird.
[1913 Webster]
3. Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy;
ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious
appetite.
[1913 Webster]
[Thy Lord] redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious
claim --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious.
[1913 Webster] -- Ra*pa"cious*ly, adv. --
Ra*pa"cious*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
rapaciousness
n 1: extreme gluttony [syn: edacity, esurience,
rapaciousness, rapacity, voracity, voraciousness]
2: an excessive desire for wealth (usually in large amounts);
"the greediness of lawyers" [syn: greediness,
voraciousness, rapaciousness]