voracity
UK: vəˈræsɪti | US: vəˈræsɪti
n. extreme greed or hunger; an insatiable appetite for something (often food or consumption).
voracity = vor<devour> + acity<noun suffix indicating state/quality>
- vor (from Latin vorare, meaning "to devour") → Retains the core idea of consuming greedily.
- acity (from Latin -acitas, a suffix forming nouns denoting a state or quality) → Conveys the abstract condition of the root.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin vorax ("greedy, devouring"), derived from vorare ("to swallow, devour"). The suffix -acity (via Old French -acité) was added to form a noun describing the state of being voracious. The logic is straightforward: vor (devour) + acity (state) = "the quality of devouring." This reflects a vivid metaphorical extension from literal hunger to abstract greed (e.g., voracious reader).
The lion ate with such voracity that nothing remained of the prey.
Her voracity for knowledge led her to read dozens of books monthly.
Critics condemned the corporation’s voracity in exploiting natural resources.
The fungal infection spread with alarming voracity.
His voracity during the buffet surprised everyone.