- Today's Word
Cupidity
kyoo-PID-ih-tee
Definition
- (noun) Excessive desire for wealth or material possessions; greed.
Example
His cupidity led him to embezzle millions from the company.
Fun Fact
Despite sounding romantic, “cupidity” is no love story—it comes from Cupid, the Roman god of desire. While Cupid usually represents romantic longing, cupidity refers to a more selfish craving, particularly for money or power. It’s been a central trait in classic tragic heroes and villains alike—from Ebenezer Scrooge to modern financial fraudsters.
(adjective) focused on practical results and real-world consequences rather than ideals, theories, or abstract principles.
Instead of arguing over perfect solutions, she took a pragmatic approach and fixed what could be done immediately.
Pragmatic traces back to the Greek word pragmatikos, meaning “relating to deeds or actions,” from pragma (“thing done” or “action”). It entered English in the late 16th century, originally referring to people skilled in managing practical affairs, before evolving into its modern meaning of valuing usefulness and outcomes over theory.