Covet
/ˈkʌv.ɪt/noun
To strongly desire something that belongs to someone else.
Did you know?In medieval and biblical English, covet was morally charged because desire itself was treated like a force that could corrupt the soul before any action ever happened.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*keub-
“to desire, to be eager”
Latin
Latin
cupere
“to long for, desire”
Latin
Latin
cupidus
“eager, desirous”
Old French
Old French
coveitier
“to desire eagerly, covet”
Middle English
English
coveten
“to desire greedily or unlawfully”
Modern English
English
covet
“to wish for something belonging to another person”
Explore more surprising origins