Appetency

Appetency
Appetency Ap"pe*ten*cy, n.; pl. {Appetencies}. [L. appetentia, fr. appetere to strive after, long for. See {Appetite}.] 1. Fixed and strong desire; esp. natural desire; a craving; an eager appetite. [1913 Webster]

They had a strong appetency for reading. --Merivale. [1913 Webster]

2. Specifically: An instinctive inclination or propensity in animals to perform certain actions, as in the young to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into water and to swim; the tendency of an organized body to seek what satisfies the wants of its organism. [1913 Webster]

These lacteals have mouths, and by animal selection or appetency the absorb such part of the fluid as is agreeable to their palate. --E. Darwin. [1913 Webster]

3. Natural tendency; affinity; attraction; -- used of inanimate objects. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • appetency — index desire, greed, predilection, predisposition, proclivity Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • appetency — [ap′ətənsap′ə tən sē] n. pl. appetencies [L appetentia, a longing after < prp. of appetere: see APPETITE] 1. a strong desire; craving; appetite 2. Now Rare a) an instinctive tendency; propensity b) a natural attraction; affinity: Also… …   English World dictionary

  • appetency — noun (plural cies) Etymology: Latin appetentia, from appetent , appetens, present participle of appetere Date: 1611 a fixed and strong desire ; appetite • appetent adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • appetency — an instinctive inclination or propensity in animals to perform certain actions, e.g. a male Betta splendens will display when sighting itself in a mirror …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • appetency — /ap i teuhn see/, n., pl. appetencies. appetence. [1620 30; < L appetentia a craving for, equiv. to appetent (s. of appetens, prp. of appetere; see APPETENCE) + ia IA; see ENCY] * * * …   Universalium

  • appetency — noun Strong desire; craving; powerful instinct. Syn: appetite, compulsion, craving …   Wiktionary

  • appetency — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun A strong wanting of what promises enjoyment or pleasure: appetence, appetite, craving, desire, hunger, itch, longing, lust, thirst, wish, yearning, yen. See DESIRE …   English dictionary for students

  • appetency — n. longing, desire; natural tendency; chemical attraction …   English contemporary dictionary

  • appetency — [ apɪt(ə)nsi] (also appetence) noun (plural appetencies) rare a longing or desire. Origin C17: from L. appetentia, from appetere (see appetite) …   English new terms dictionary

  • appetency — n. See appetence …   New dictionary of synonyms

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