vorace

Vorace is a French adjective meaning voracious or ravenous, used to describe insatiable appetite or greed. It can characterize physical hunger as well as metaphorical cravings, such as a vorace curiosity or a vorace pursuit of power or success. In literary and critical contexts, it often conveys intensity, relentlessness, or extreme drive.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Latin vorax, vorac-, from vorare “to devour.” It has cognates in several Romance languages, including Spanish voraz and Italian vorace, reflecting a common root related to appetite and consumption.

Usage notes: In French, vorace is commonly used to color descriptions with a strong, aggressive sense of appetite or ambition. When borrowed or referenced in other languages, it is typically used to evoke a French nuance or in quoted material. As a proper noun, vorace is uncommon and not associated with a widely recognized figure, place, or brand.

Related terms: Its English equivalents include voracious and ravenous, while related forms such as voracity and the Italian vorace, Spanish voraz, illustrate cross-linguistic parallels in expressing intense appetite or greed.