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envy - 7 dictionary results
en⋅vy
[en-vee] 
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 invidēre to envy; see invidious ) + -ia -y 3 ; (v.) ME envien < OF envier < ML invidiāre, deriv. of L invidia
1250–1300; (n.) ME envie < OF < L invidia, equiv. to invid(us) envious (deriv. of invidēre to envy; see invidious ) + -ia -y 3 ; (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.
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To envy
| en·vy (ěn'vē) n. pl. en·vies
[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). |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Envy
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.Envy
En"vy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Envied; p. pr. & vb. n. Envying.] [F. envier.]1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it. A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty. --Collier. Whoever envies another confesses his superiority. --Rambler. 2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge. I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behavior. --Shak. Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes. --Froude. 3. To long after; to desire strongly; to covet. Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share. --T. Gray. 4. To do harm to; to injure; to disparage. [Obs.] If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me against a wall. --J. Fletcher. 5. To hate. [Obs.] --Marlowe. 6. To emulate. [Obs.] --Spenser.Envy
En"vy\, v. i. 1. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at. Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked? --Jer. Taylor. 2. To show malice or ill will; to rail. [Obs.] "He has . . . envied against the people." --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : envy
Spanish:
envidia,
German:
der Neid,
Japanese:
ねたみ
envy
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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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envy
see green with envy.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
