From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
avarice
n 1: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
(personified as one of the deadly sins) [syn: greed,
covetousness, rapacity, avaritia]
2: extreme greed for material wealth [syn: avariciousness,
covetousness, cupidity]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Avarice \Av"a*rice\ ([a^]v"[.a]*r[i^]s), n. [F. avaritia, fr.
avarus avaricious, prob. fr. av[=e]re to covet, fr. a root av
to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. 'a`menai, 'a^sai, to satiate,
Skr. av to satiate one's self, rejoice, protect.]
1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness for
wealth; covetousness; cupidity.
[1913 Webster]
To desire money for its own sake, and in order to
hoard it up, is avarice. --Beattie.
[1913 Webster]
2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good.
[1913 Webster]
All are taught an avarice of praise. --Goldsmith.
[1913 Webster]