ăvārus, a, um, adj. (gen. plur. fem. avarūm, Plaut. Truc. 2, 8, 9 dub.; Speng., aurum) [1. aveo, Gell. 10, 5, 13], eagerly desirous of something, esp. of possessions, avaricious, covetous, greedy (opp. largus, Quadrig. ap. Non. p. 510, 20: avarum et avidum ita discernuntur: avarum semper in reprehensione est; avidum autem malis aliquando, aliquando bonis adjungitur, Non. p. 442, 12 sq.; v. II.; syn.: avidus, cupidus, tenax, sordidus).
I Lit.: meretrix, Ter. Eun. 927, and Cat. 110, 7; cf.: Carmine formosae, pretio capiuntur avarae, Tib. 3, 1, 7: leno, Ter. Heaut. 39: avarus et furax homo, Cic. de Or. 2, 66, 268: semper avarus eget, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 56: quantum discordet parcus avaro, id. ib. 2, 2, 194.—With gen.: publicae pecuniae, Tac. H. 1, 49: caedis, Claud. B. Get. 606 et saep.—Poet. transf. to inanimate things: fuge litus avarum, Verg. A. 3, 44 ( = avarorum, Serv.): Troja, i. e. with reference to the perjured avarice of Laomedon, Ov. M. 11, 208 (cf.: perjura Troja, Verg. A. 5, 811; Ov. M. 11, 215): fraus, Hor. C. 4, 9, 37: spes, id. ib. 4, 11, 25: venter, id. Ep. 1, 15, 32: mare, id. C. 3, 29, 61: Acheron. Verg. G. 2, 492: ignis, Prop. 3, 26, 10 al.—
II Transf., in the poets sometimes without the access. idea of reproach: Graiis praeter laudem nullius avaris, eager only for glory , Hor. A. P. 324: agricola, Verg. G. 1, 48.— Comp. : avariores magistratus, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 82: ruberes, Viveret in terris te si quis avarior uno, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 157. — Sup. : homo avarissime et spurcissime, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 37.—Adv., covetously , greedily , avariciously , etc.
a Ante-class. form ăvārĭter , Cato and Quadrig. ap. Non. p. 510, 17: ingurgitare, Plaut. Curc. 1, 2, 35. —Of gluttony: si quis avidus poscit escam avariter, Plaut. Rud. 4, 7, 12; cf. avaritia, II.—
b Class. form ăvārē : avare pretium statui arti meae, Ter. Heaut. 48: aliquid facere, Cic. Off. 3, 8, 37; Nep. Lys. 4, 1: superbe avareque imperitare victis, Liv. 21, 1, 3; cf. Curt. 4, 7.— Comp. , more eagerly , more greedily : avarius exigere opus, Col. 1, 7, 1.— Sup. : avarissime horas suas servare, Sen. Ot. Sap. 32.