Avariciously

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Exhibiting a behavior marked by an overwhelming greed for money and possessions
2. Demonstrating an insatiable and obsessive pursuit of wealth and material possessions that affects ethical decision-making
3. In a way that reveals an intense and selfish desire to acquire riches and goods

Etymology: Avariciously is avaricious with the adverbial ending "-ly" added, so the interesting part of its story lies in the adjective it modifies and in the ending itself. "Avaricious" came into English from Latin "avaricia" (greed), and that Latin noun descends from "avarus" (greedy), which is rooted in a verb meaning "to crave" or "to desire." The sense is simple and unsentimental: a person who craves wealth is, in the ordinary sense, avaricious. The "-ly" ending has a far longer past than the word it sits on. It descends from a Proto-Germanic suffix meaning "body" or "form," which became "-lic" in Old English and, by Middle English, had worn down to "-ly." Attaching it to an adjective turns the quality into a manner, so "avariciously" describes doing something in the way a greedy person would, here specifically in pursuit of riches.

Synonyms: greedily, covetously, rapaciously

Antonyms: generously, unselfishly, altruistically