The adjective “voracious” comes from the Latin verb “vorare,” meaning “to devour.” The Proto-Indo-European root “gwora-” is the origin of both “vorare” and the Latin “gurges,” meaning “whirlpool” — think of a whirlpool swallowing up anything that gets too close. You might use “voracious” when talking about hunger or an interest in something, but the important thing to know is that it implies intensity. It’s not just about eating dinner or liking books — “voracious” implies devouring things.