cŭpĭdĭtas, ātis (gen. plur. rarely -tatium, Cic. Sest. 66, 138; Sen. Ep. 5, 7), f. [cupidus], a desire, wish, longing, in a good and (more freq.) in a bad sense.
I In a good sense, a longing, desire .
α With gen.: insatiabilis quaedam veri videndi, Cic. Tusc. 1, 19, 44: cognoscendi, id. ib.: imitandi, id. Brut. 92, 317: mirabilis pugnandi, Nep. Milt. 5, 1 al.: justi et magni triumphi, Cic. Pis. 25, 59: gloriae, id. ib.: mira studiorum, Tac. Or. 2: cibi, appetite , Cels. 2, 3 al.—
β With ad : tanta cupiditas ad reditum, Cic. Phil. 1, 4, 9: tanta ad venandum, Curt. 9, 1, 33.—
γ Absol. : nimis flagrare cupiditate, Cic. de Or. 1, 30, 134: nimis confidere propter cupiditatem, on account of warm desire , id. Off. 1, 21, 73: de voluntate tuā, ut simul simus, vel studio potius et cupiditate non dubito, eager longing , id. Att. 12, 26, 1; cf.: tanta erat magnificentia apud opulentiores, cupiditas apud humiliores, devotion, enthusiasm , Auct. B. G. 8, 51 fin. —
II In a bad sense, a passionate desire, lust, passion, cupidity .
A In gen.
α With gen.: pecuniae, Caes. B. G. 6, 22; Quint. 7, 2, 30 al.: praedae, Caes. B. G. 6, 34: praeceps et lubrica dominandi, Cic. Phil. 5, 18, 50: laedendi, Quint. 5, 7, 30: diutius exigendi mercedulas, id. 12, 11, 14 et saep. —
β Absol. : vel libido vel cupiditas, Cic. Tusc. 4, 19, 44: vita maxime disjuncta a cupiditate, id. Rosc. Am. 14, 39: caeca ac temeraria dominatrix animi cupiditas, id. Inv. 1, 2, 2: mala, Ter. Heaut. 208: vita hominum sine cupiditate agitabatur, Sall. C. 2, 1: indomitas cupiditates atque effrenatas habere, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 24, § 62; cf.: domitas habere libidines, coërcere omnes cupiditates, id. de Or. 1, 43, 194 et saep.: P. Naso omni carens cupiditate (i. e. non appetens provinciam), id. Phil. 3, 10, 25: temeritatem cupiditatemque militum reprehendit, immoderate love of fighting , Caes. B. G. 7, 52.—
b Carnal desire, lust , Plin. 36, 5, 4, § 21; of animals, Col. 6, 27, 4.—
2 Transf., the object of desire (cf. ἐπιθυμία): alicujus ex inpurissimis faucibus inhonestissimam cupiditatem eripere, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, § 19; cf. id. Scaur. 14, 45.—
B In partic.
1 A passionate desire for money or other possessions; avarice, cupidity, covetousness : nisi ipsos caecos redderet cupiditas et avaritia et audacia, Cic. Rosc. Am. 35, 101; so with avaritia, Quint. 12, 1, 6; Suet. Dom. 9: et contemptus pecuniae et cupiditas, Quint. 7, 2, 30; opp. abstinentia, Suet. Dom. 9; 10: cupiditas causa sceleris fuit, Quint. 5, 12, 6 Spald.; 3, 5, 10; 5, 10, 34; Suet. Calig. 44 al.—
b The passion of love : cupiditatis ardor, Curt. 8, 4, 27: insana, Val. Max. 7, 3, 10: aliquam non cupiditate tantā diligere, ut, etc., Suet. Calig. 24.—
c Greediness of gain in trade, usury , overreaching, fraud , Cic. Att. 1, 17, 9.—
d The lust of power, ambition (post-Aug.): non te propria cupiditas, sed aliena utilitas principem fecit, Plin. Pan. 7.—
2 An undue partiality, spirit of party : (testes) aut sine ullo studio dicebant, aut cum dissimulatione aliquā cupiditatis, Cic. Fl. 10, 21; 26, 64; id. Planc. 17, 43; Liv. 24, 28, 8.