All 7 Uses of
avarice
in
The Canterbury Tales
- Of avarice and of such cursedness* *wickedness
Is all my preaching, for to make them free
To give their pence, and namely* unto me.†Chpt 6.14avarice = excessive desire for wealth
- Thus can I preach against the same vice
Which that I use, and that is avarice.Chpt 6.14 *
- But though myself be guilty in that sin,
Yet can I maken other folk to twin* *depart
From avarice, and sore them repent.†Chpt 6.14
- *unnatural
Now, good men, God forgive you your trespass,
And ware* you from the sin of avarice.†Chpt 6.14
- For of this root spring certain branches: as ire, envy, accidie <6> or sloth, avarice or covetousness (to common understanding), gluttony, and lechery: and each of these sins hath his branches and his twigs, as shall be declared in their chapters following.†
Chpt 10.24
- Avarice, or Covetousness, which is the root of all harms, since its votaries are idolaters, oppressors and enslavers of men, deceivers of their equals in business, simoniacs, gamblers, liars, thieves, false swearers, blasphemers, murderers, and sacrilegious.†
Chpt 10.24
- Gluttony; — of which the Parson treats so briefly that the chapter may be given in full: — ] After Avarice cometh Gluttony, which is express against the commandment of God.†
Chpt 10.24
Definition:
excessive desire for wealth
Like "greed", but implies greed specifically for money. The early Christian Church counted avarice as one of the "seven deadly sins."