Cov"et*ous (k?v"?t-?s), a. [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See Covet, v. t.]

1.

Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense.

Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak.

Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.

2.

Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.

The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world. South.

Syn. -- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See Avaricious.

© Webster 1913.