esurient

[ ih-soor-ee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. hungry; greedy:

   Be wary of esurient moneylenders.

   Synonyms: avaricious, voracious

esurient

/ ɪˈsjʊərɪənt /

adjective

1. greedy; voracious

Derived Forms

• eˈsurience, noun
• eˈsuriently, adverb

Other Words From

• e·suri·ence e·suri·en·cy noun
• e·suri·ent·ly adverb
• none·suri·ent adjective
• none·suri·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of esurient¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from Latin ēsurient- (stem of ēsuriēns, present participle of ēsurīre ) “hungering,” equivalent to ēsur- “hunger” + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of esurient¹

C17: from Latin ēsurīre to be hungry, from edere to eat

Example Sentences

Has the surfeit of wild and varied musical content available to anyone with a Web browser inadvertently engineered a new breed of omnivorous consumer—esurient, demanding fresh permutations?

From The New Yorker

Esurient, es-ū′ri-ent, adj. hungry: penurious.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to be hoped that a numerous and enterprising generation of writers will follow and surpass the present one; but it would be better if the stream were stayed, and 262 the roll of our old, honest English books were closed, than that esurient bookmakers should continue and debase a brave tradition, and lower, in their own eyes, a famous race.

From Project Gutenberg

Mark them well––Danton and Robespierre: today, merely “esurient advocates,” petty men of law come up from the provinces to win their fortunes in Paris; tomorrow, leaders of faction; some months or years later, the rulers of France!

From Project Gutenberg

Oscar—the amiable, irresponsible, esurient Oscar—with no more sense of a picture than of the fit of a coat, has the courage of the opinions ... of others!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• eager
• greedy
• keen
• ravenous
• starved