Ap"pe*tite (&?;), n.
[OE. appetit, F. appétit, fr. L. appetitus, fr.
appetere to strive after, long for; ad + petere to seek. See
Petition, and cf.
Appetence.]
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.
&fist; 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.
Hear it pronounced