n. [ OE. appetit, F. appétit, fr. L. appetitus, fr. appetere to strive after, long for; ad + petere to seek. See Petition, and cf. Appetence. ] 1. The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The object of appetite it whatsoever sensible good may be wished for; the object of will is that good which reason does lead us to seek. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men must have appetite before they will eat. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing. [ 1913 Webster ]

It God had given to eagles an appetite to swim. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvelous. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Tendency; appetency. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In all bodies there as an appetite of union. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The thing desired. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Power being the natural appetite of princes. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In old authors, appetite is followed by to or of, but regularly it should be followed by for before the object; as, an appetite for pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Craving; longing; desire; appetency; passion. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F., fem. of petit. ] Small, little; -- used especially of a woman or girl, of small size and trim figure; as, her petite figure.
Syn. -- bantam, diminutive, lilliputian, midget, tiny. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F., fem. of petit. ] 1. A size category of women's clothing, for women with less than average height. [ PJC ]

2. An aricle of women's clothing classified in the petite{ 1 } size category. [ PJC ]

3. A girl or woman whose figure is best fit by a petite{ 1 } garment. [ PJC ]