Covet earnestly the best gifts.
1. Cor. xxii. 31.
If it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
Shak.
2. To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
Ex. xx. 17.
Syn. -- To long for; desire; hanker after; crave.
Cov"et, v. i. To have or indulge inordinate desire.
Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.
1 Tim. vi. 10.
Cov"et*a*ble (k?v"?t-?-b'l), a. That may be coveted; desirable.
Cov"et*er (-?r), n. One who covets.
Cov"et*ise (-?s), n. [OF. coveitise, F. convoitise. See Covet, v. t. ] Avarice. [Obs.] Spenser.
Cov"et*ive*ness (-?v-), n. (Phren.) Acquisitiveness.
Cov"et*ous (k?v"?t-?s), a. [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See Covet, v. t.] 1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. [Archaic]
Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue.
Shak.
Covetous death bereaved us all,
To aggrandize one funeral.
Emerson.
2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.
The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world.
South.
Syn. -- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See Avaricious.
Cov"et*ous*ly, adv. In a covetous manner.