What is the Latin word for craving?

The usual Latin words for “craving” are contentiō, appetītiō, impetus; also honor, palma, aliēnus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“craving” in Latin

contentiōstretching, tension; competition, rivalry; struggle, effort appetītiōThe act of grasping at or reaching after something.; A passionate longing or striving for something, strong desire, impu impetusan attack, an assault, a charge; a rapid motion; impulse, vehemence, ardor, passion honorhonor, esteem, dignity, reputation, office palmapalm of the hand, hand; blade of an oar; palm tree; date tree aliēnusOf that which belongs to another person, place, or object—of another, alien, foreign; unfriendly, inimical, hostile, sus

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

craving

contentio, alicujus rei (e.g., honorum, palmae): appetitio, alicujus rei (e.g., alieni; principals): impetus (a violent longing; e.g., for praise, animorum ad laudem): desiderium alicujus rei: sitis alicujus rei (thirst for it): an insatiable craving, sitis importuna, immensa, *inexplebilis.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for craving?: The usual Latin words for “craving” are contentiō, appetītiō, impetus; also honor, palma, aliēnus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.