From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
appetite
n 1: a feeling of craving something; "an appetite for life";
"the object of life is to satisfy as many appetencies as
possible"- Granville Hicks [syn: appetite, appetency,
appetence]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Appetite \Ap"pe*tite\, n. [OE. appetit, F. app['e]tit, fr. L.
appetitus, fr. appetere to strive after, long for; ad +
petere to seek. See Petition, and cf. Appetence.]
1. The desire for some personal gratification, either of the
body or of the mind.
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The object of appetite it whatsoever sensible good
may be wished for; the object of will is that good
which reason does lead us to seek. --Hooker.
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2. Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger.
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Men must have appetite before they will eat.
--Buckle.
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3. Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing.
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It God had given to eagles an appetite to swim.
--Jer. Taylor.
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To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvelous.
--Macaulay.
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4. Tendency; appetency. [Obs.]
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In all bodies there as an appetite of union.
--Bacon.
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5. The thing desired. [Obs.]
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Power being the natural appetite of princes.
--Swift.
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Note: In old authors, appetite is followed by to or of, but
regularly it should be followed by for before the
object; as, an appetite for pleasure.
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Syn: Craving; longing; desire; appetency; passion.
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