Cupidity

The Latin word cupidus (desirous or greedy) gave rise to Cupido, Cupid, the Roman equivalent of the Greek god of love, Eros. In early representations he is a handsome youth, but becomes increasingly younger and develops his familiar attributes of bow and arrow (with which he rouses passion both in gods and mortals) and wings, until he finally evolves into the Italian putti or decorative cherubs frequently seen in Renaissance art. From the same root is derived cupiditas to denote any intense passion or desire, from which we derive cupidity (avarice or greed). See erotic.