Appetencies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Innate tendencies or strong natural desires toward certain actions or goals; persistent cravings or longings that drive behavior or preferences; inherent inclinations or appetites prompting pursuit of specific objects or experiences
2. Deep-seated yearnings or impulses directing one toward particular aims or satisfactions; abiding wants or urges that influence choices and motivations; natural predispositions or hungers steering attention and effort toward favored outcomes
3. Fundamental urges or cravings motivating individuals to seek certain pleasures or accomplishments; ingrained preferences or desires fueling decisions and ambitions; instinctive appetites or leanings that shape behavior and aspirations

Etymology: "Appetencies" is the plural of "appetency," a noun for an innate craving or leaning. The singular "appetency" is the form that carries the etymology: it is built on the Latin verb "appetere," meaning "to seek after" or "to strive for," which combined "ad-" ("toward") with "petere" ("to seek, to make for"). The same root gives English "appetite" and "petition," so the word is closely related to the everyday idea of hunger. The word's core sense is motion toward something, not simply consumption. A "petition" is a seeking toward a person in authority, and an "appetite" is the seeking of food or drink. "Appetency" keeps that wider sense of reaching out, which is why it can describe desires for accomplishment or pleasure as well as bodily hungers.

Synonyms: desires, longings, cravings, yearnings, wants

Antonyms: aversion, dislike, indifference, repulsion, disinterest