Cov"et*ous*ness, n.
1.
Strong desire.
[R.]
When workmen strive to do better than well,
They do confound their skill in covetousness.
Shak.
2.
A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense.
Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting.
Sprat.
Syn. -- Avarice; cupidity; eagerness.
© Webster 1913.