Word of the Day: Appetency

 [apədənsē]

NOUN

A longing or desire.

A natural tendency or affinity.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

“Pickles and ice cream were the strangest appetency of her pregnancy.”

“My grandfather always had an appetency for woodworking and carving.”

“If you have an appetency for cooking, you might want to consider going to culinary school instead of a traditional university.”

WORD ORIGIN

Latin, early 17th century

WHY THIS WORD?

One usage of “appetency” is as a synonym for “appetite,” but it has a connotation of a strong craving. If you use “appetency” instead of “appetite,” there is probably an emotional hunger associated with your desire. Perhaps you’re craving the nostalgia of your grandmother’s peach cobbler, and you’re not just looking to sample the seasonal fruit.