covet

English

Etymology

From Middle English coveten, coveiten, coveyten, from Old French covoitier (modern French convoiter), from covoitié (“desire”), presumably modified from Latin cupiditas. First used in the 14th century.

Pronunciation
  • enPR: kŭv′ĭt
  • IPA(key): /ˈkʌvɪt/
  • Rhymes: -ʌvɪt

Verb

covet (third-person singular simple present covets, present participle coveting, simple past and past participle coveted)

  1. (transitive) To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, often enviously.
  2. (transitive) To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).
  3. (intransitive) To yearn; to have or indulge an inordinate desire, especially for another's possession.

Derived terms
Derived terms

Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

Further reading
  • covet in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
  • covet in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
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