appetency

  • 1Appetency — Ap pe*ten*cy, n.; pl. {Appetencies}. [L. appetentia, fr. appetere to strive after, long for. See {Appetite}.] 1. Fixed and strong desire; esp. natural desire; a craving; an eager appetite. [1913 Webster] They had a strong appetency for reading.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2appetency — index desire, greed, predilection, predisposition, proclivity Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 3appetency — [ap′ətənsap′ə tən sē] n. pl. appetencies [L appetentia, a longing after < prp. of appetere: see APPETITE] 1. a strong desire; craving; appetite 2. Now Rare a) an instinctive tendency; propensity b) a natural attraction; affinity: Also… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4appetency — noun (plural cies) Etymology: Latin appetentia, from appetent , appetens, present participle of appetere Date: 1611 a fixed and strong desire ; appetite • appetent adjective …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 5appetency — an instinctive inclination or propensity in animals to perform certain actions, e.g. a male Betta splendens will display when sighting itself in a mirror …

    Dictionary of ichthyology

  • 6appetency — /ap i teuhn see/, n., pl. appetencies. appetence. [1620 30; < L appetentia a craving for, equiv. to appetent (s. of appetens, prp. of appetere; see APPETENCE) + ia IA; see ENCY] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 7appetency — noun Strong desire; craving; powerful instinct. Syn: appetite, compulsion, craving …

    Wiktionary

  • 8appetency — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun A strong wanting of what promises enjoyment or pleasure: appetence, appetite, craving, desire, hunger, itch, longing, lust, thirst, wish, yearning, yen. See DESIRE …

    English dictionary for students

  • 9appetency — n. longing, desire; natural tendency; chemical attraction …

    English contemporary dictionary

  • 10appetency — [ apɪt(ə)nsi] (also appetence) noun (plural appetencies) rare a longing or desire. Origin C17: from L. appetentia, from appetere (see appetite) …

    English new terms dictionary