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Cupidity

/kjuːˈpɪdəti/

nounC2

Definition

Cupidity is a strong and greedy wish to get money or possessions. It usually means wanting more than you really need, and it can cause people to act selfishly or unfairly.

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See It in Action

Greedy desire for wealth or possessions

  • •His cupidity led him to steal from others.
  • •The story warns about the dangers of cupidity in business.
  • •Cupidity can cause people to lose friends and trust.

Make It Stick

  • ✓Think of "cupidity" like "want" (A1 word), but much stronger and greedy—like wanting everything for yourself
  • ✓Picture someone holding a big cup and trying to fill it with gold coins, never happy no matter how full it gets
  • ✓It's the feeling when you want more toys or candy than you really need and don't want to share
  • ✓Sounds like "cue-PID-ity" → Imagine Cupid (the love angel) but instead of love, he shoots arrows that make people want money
  • ✓In stories, greedy kings or villains often show cupidity—they want all the treasure and power
  • ✓NOT like "like" or "want" (simple desire)—cupidity is greedy and never satisfied
  • ✓NOT like "generosity" (giving)—cupidity is about taking and keeping for oneself
  • ✓NOT like "need" (something important)—cupidity is about wanting more than necessary

Try Other Words

  • •Greed: very strong desire for more money or things (Use in everyday conversation)
  • •Avarice: extreme greed for wealth (Use in formal or literary contexts)
  • •Desire: wanting something (Use when the feeling is not necessarily greedy)

Unboxing

  • •Word parts: from Latin "cupiditas" meaning "desire, longing," related to "cupere" meaning "to desire"
  • •Etymology: Latin origin, connected to the god Cupid who represents desire and love
  • •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to mean strong desire, especially for wealth
  • •Modern usage: Mostly found in formal writing, literature, or discussions about greed and selfishness

Reflect & Connect

•Fill-in-blank: I feel cupidity when I see something I really want but maybe should not take.
•How can cupidity affect relationships between friends or family?
•Can wanting things strongly ever be good, or does cupidity always cause problems? Why?

Fill in the blanks

1.The most cupidity I have seen was when _______ wanted _______ and did not care about others.