Main Entry:

ap·pe·tite

Pronunciation:

\ˈa-pə-ˌtīt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English apetit, from Anglo-French, from Latin appetitus, from appetere to strive after, from ad- + petere to go to — more at feather

Date:

14th century

1: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life ; especially : the desire to eat2 a: an inherent craving <an insatiable appetite for work> b: taste, preference <the cultural appetites of the time — J. D. Hart>

— ap·pe·ti·tive \-ˌtī-tiv\ adjective