Envies - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

en·vy

Audio Help [en-vee] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -vies, verb, -vied, -vy·ing.

–noun

1.	a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

2.	an object of envious feeling: Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.

3.	Obsolete. ill will.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to regard with envy; be envious of: He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.

–verb (used without object)

5.	Obsolete. to be affected with envy.

[Origin: 1250–1300; (n.) ME envie < OF < L invidia, equiv. to invid(us) envious (deriv. of invidére to envy; see invidious) + -ia -y³; (v.) ME envien < OF envier < ML invidiāre, deriv. of L invidia

]

—Related forms

en·vy·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. enviousness. Envy and jealousy are very close in meaning. Envy denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another: to feel envy when a friend inherits a fortune. Jealousy, on the other hand, denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves: to feel jealousy when a coworker receives a promotion. Jealousy also refers to anguish caused by fear of unfaithfulness. 4. resent. Envy, begrudge, covet refer to one's attitude toward the possessions or attainments of others. To envy is to feel resentful and unhappy because someone else possesses, or has achieved, what one wishes oneself to possess, or to have achieved: to envy the wealthy, a woman's beauty, an honest man's reputation. To begrudge is to be unwilling that another should have the possessions, honors, or credit that person deserves: to begrudge a man a reward for heroism. To covet is to long jealously to possess what someone else possesses: I covet your silverware.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Envies

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

en·vy Audio Help (ěn'vē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. en·vies

1. A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
2. The object of such feeling: Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors.
Obsolete Malevolence.

tr.v. en·vied, en·vy·ing, en·vies

To feel envy toward.
To regard with envy.

[Middle English envie, from Old French, from Latin invidia, from invidus, envious, from invidēre, to look at with envy : in-, in, on; see en-¹ + vidēre, to see; see weid- in Indo-European roots. V., from Middle English envien, from Old French envier, from Latin invidēre.]

en'vi·er n., en'vy·ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to feel resentful or painful desire for another's advantages or possessions. Envy, the most general, combines discontent, resentment, and desire: "When I peruse the conquered fame of heroes and the victories of mighty generals, I do not envy the generals" (Walt Whitman).
Begrudge stresses ill will and reluctance to acknowledge another's right or claim: Why begrudge him his success?
Covet stresses a secret or culpable longing for something to which one has no right: "We hate no people and covet no people's lands" (Wendell L. Willkie).