WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ap"pe*tite
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. appetit, F. app?tit, fr. L. appetitus, fr. appetere to strive after, long for; ad + petere to seek. See Petition, and cf. Appetence.]
Definition : 1. The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the mind. The object of appetite it whatsoever sensible good may be wished for; the object of will is that good which reason does lead us to seek. Hooker.

2. Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger. Men must have appetite before they will eat. Buckle.

3. Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing. It God had given to eagles an appetite to swim. Jer. Taylor. To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvelous. Macaulay.

4. Tendency; appetency. [Obs.] In all bodies there as an appetite of union. Bacon.

5. The thing desired. [Obs.] Power being the natural appetite of princes. Swift.

Note: In old authors, appetite is followed by to or of, but regularly it should be followed by for before the object; as, an appetite for pleasure.

Syn. -- Craving; longing; desire; appetency; passion.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913