American Dictionary of the English Language

RAPAC'ITY, noun [Latin rapacitas, from rapax, rapio.]

1. Addictedness to plunder; the exercise of plunder; the act or practice of seizing by force; as the rapacity of a conquering army; the rapacity of pirates; the rapacity of a Turkish pashaw; the rapacity of extortioners.

2. Ravenousness; as the rapacity of animals.

3. The act or practice of extorting or exacting by oppressive injustice.