appetite

ad+petere= to seek, in Latin
appetere is to seek, covet, desire, long for
and so an appetitus is "a desire toward" (still in Latin)

then Old French has apetit

and we get our appetite thus

an appetite is the "bent of the mind toward the attainment of an object or purpose; desire, inclination, disposition"

or

"Inclination, preference, liking, fancy" (i.e. "so as to suit one's tastes")

but, most importantly, as it is most fitting to me at this very moment,

"Craving for food, hunger"


(OED)