appetence

Circa 1600, from French appétence, from Latin appetentia, from appetere (“to seek after”). Doublet of appetite.

• IPA^(key): /ˈæp.ɪ.təns/

appetence (countable and uncountable, plural appetences)

1. The state or action of desiring or craving.
   • 1895, Arthur Machen, The Three Impostors:

     The days passed quickly; I could see that the professor was all quivering with suppressed excitement, and I could scarce credit the eager appetence of his glance as we left the old manor house behind us, and began our journey.

   • 1974, Davenport, Tatlin!:

     They had assumed the wild sweet freedom of jacking off in their inviolable privacy. Their appetence became resilient with repetition.