Word of the Day

: September 20, 2008

voracity

noun vuh-RASS-uh-tee

What It Means

: the quality or state of being ravenous or insatiable

voracity in Context

Elena reads books with such voracity that she returns to the library two or three times a week.

Did You Know?

"Voracity" comes to us via the Middle French "voracitē" from the Latin word "voracitas," which itself comes from "vorax," meaning "voracious," plus "-itas," the Latin equivalent of the English noun suffix "-ity." "Voracity" is one of two English words that mean "the quality or state of being voracious." The other is "voraciousness," which was once considered to be archaic but has made a comeback. Because "voracity" evolved from non-English forerunners, rather than being created in English from "voracious" (as was "voraciousness"), the word may strike some English speakers as an unusual formation. It's not surprising, therefore, that the more familiar-looking "voraciousness" has reappeared -- most likely through a process of reinvention by people unaware of "voracity."