When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense. [ 1913 Webster ]
Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting. Sprat.