envious

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English

Etymology

From Middle English envious, from Anglo-Norman envious, from Old French envieus, envious (modern French envieux), from Latin invidiōsus; more at envy. Doublet of invidious, borrowed directly from Latin. Displaced native Old English æfestiġ.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: ĕnʹvēəs, IPA(key): /ˈɛnviːəs/
  • Audio (UK)(file)
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Adjective

envious (comparative more envious, superlative most envious)

  1. Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging
    an envious man, disposition, or attack; envious tongues
  2. Excessively careful; cautious.
    • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. , 2nd edition, London: Francis Ashe , →OCLC:
      for no man was ever so amorous, as to love a toad; none so envious, as to repine at the condition of the miserable
  3. (obsolete) Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
  4. (obsolete, poetic) Inspiring envy.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French envieux, from Latin invidiōsus; equivalent to envie +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛnviˈuːs/, /ˈɛnvius/

Adjective

envious (plural and weak singular enviouse)

  1. aggressive, malignant
  2. envious (having envy)
  3. (rare) competitive

Descendants

  • English: envious

References

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin invidiōsus.

Adjective

envious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular enviouse)

  1. envious; jealous
    • c. 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
      Mez mult part fu cruel e mult fu envious
      But was very cruel and very jealous

Descendants

Wikious
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