Am-bī'tion (-bĭsh'un)1, n.
(-bĭsh'un), n. [Lat. ambitio, a going around, especially of candidates for office in Rome, to solicit votes; hence, desire for office or honor, from ambire, to go around; Fr. ambition, Pr. ambitio. See AMBIENT.]
Sense 1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire. [Rare.] “[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds.” Milton.
Sense 2. An eager and sometimes an inordinate desire of preferment, honor, superiority, or power. Pope.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition: By that sin fell the angels. Shak.