Rapaciousness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  rapaciousness
       n : extreme gluttony [syn: {edacity}, {esurience}, {rapacity}, {voracity},
            {voraciousness}]