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.
A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
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).
c.1280, from O.Fr. envie, from L. invidia "envy, jealousy," from invidus "envious," from invidere "envy," earlier "look at (with malice), cast an evil eye upon," from in- "upon" + videre "to see" (see vision). Similar formations in Avestan nipashnaka "envious," also "look at;" O.C.S. zavideti "to envy," from videti "to see;" Lith. pavydeti "to envy," related to veizdeti "to see, to look at."
En"vi*a*ble\, a. [From Envy.] Fitted to excite envy; capable of awakening an ardent desire to posses or to resemble. One of most enviable of human beings. --Macaulay. -- En"vi*a*ble*ness, n. -- En"vi*a*bly, adv.
En"vi*ous\, a. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.] Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch. --Shak. 2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or proceeding from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition, feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained by the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging; -- followed by of, at, and against; as, an envious man, disposition, attack; envious tongues. My soul is envious of mine eye. --Keble. Neither be thou envious at the wicked. --Prov. xxiv. 19. 3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic] He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of victor's glory from him snatched away. --Spenser. 4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.] No men are so envious of their health. --Jer. Taylor. -- En"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- En"vi*ous*ness, n.
En"vy\, n.; pl. Envies. [F. envie, L. invidia envious; akin to invidere to look askance at, to look with enmity; in against + videre to see. See Vision.]1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.] If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people. --Shak. 2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of C[ae]sar. Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us. --Ray. No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. --Milton. Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave. --Pope. 3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. --Ford. 4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.] To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson. 5. An object of envious notice or feeling. This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world. --Macaulay.
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