\Av`a*ri"cious\, a. [Cf. F. avaricieux.]
Actuated by avarice; greedy of gain; immoderately desirous of
accumulating property.
Syn: Greedy; stingy; rapacious; griping; sordid; close.
Usage: {Avaricious}, {Covetous}, {Parsimonious}, {Penurious},
       {Miserly}, {Niggardly}. The avaricious eagerly grasp
       after it at the expense of others, though not of
       necessity with a design to save, since a man may be
       covetous and yet a spendthrift. The penurious,
       parsimonious, and miserly save money by disgraceful
       self-denial, and the niggardly by meanness in their
       dealing with others. We speak of persons as covetous
       in getting, avaricious in retaining, parsimonious in
       expending, penurious or miserly in modes of living,
       niggardly in dispensing. -- {Av`a*ri"cious*ly}, adv.
       -- {Av`a*ri"cious*ness}, n.