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envy

 - 4 dictionary results

en⋅vy

  [en-vee] noun, plural -vies, verb, -vied, -vy⋅ing.
Use envy in a Sentence
–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

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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To envy
en·vy   (ěn'vē)   
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.

  2. Obsolete Malevolence.

tr.v.   en·vied, en·vy·ing, en·vies

  1. To feel envy toward.

  2. 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).
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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Word Origin & History

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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Idioms & Phrases

envy

see green with envy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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