Appetence

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæp.ɪ.təns/

Definitions

1. A strong desire or longing can indicate a specific craving for an object or experience that one feels drawn to, often involving emotional or physical satisfaction
2. This term encompasses an intense inclination or yearning for something significant, reflecting both a mental and emotional pursuit toward desired goals or items
3. An intense longing or craving for something felt deeply within a person

Etymology: Appetence arrived in English around 1600 from French "appétence," which itself came from the Latin "appetentia," a noun built on "appetere," meaning "to seek after" or "to strive for." Its root is the same as that of the Latin verb "petere," "to seek," which also gave English words like "petition" and "compete." Readers will recognise it as a close relative of "appetite," which entered English through a different route, so the two words are doublets: one came in through French, the other more directly from Latin, and they split into distinct senses. Where "appetite" grew to cover ordinary hunger and desire in general, "appetence" stayed narrower, keeping the sense of a deep, instinctive pull toward something. Its vocabulary has a sharper edge than its near-twin, which is why it tends to appear in writing about innate drives rather than dinner.

Synonyms: desire, craving, longing

Antonyms: aversion, disinterest