Greed
/ɡriːd/noun
An intense and selfish desire for more wealth, power, or possessions.
Did you know?Greed comes from Old English grǣdig, meaning “hungry, ravenous,” so the word began as a body-level appetite before becoming a moral sin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰreh₁-
“to grow, to become green; by extension, to thrive or be eager”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*grēdaz
“greedy, hungry, ravenous”
Old English
OE
grǣdig
“greedy, ravenous, eager”
Middle English
ME
greedy
“voracious, covetous”
Modern English
English
greed
“excessive desire for wealth or possessions”