envious

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 æfēstiġ, æfstiġ (“envious”), andiġ (“envious”), and Old English nīþiġ (“envious”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛnvɪəs/

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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

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Psalms 37:1:

     Fret not thy ſelfe becauſe of euill doers, neither bee thou enuious againſt the workers of iniquitie.

   • Keble

     My soul is envious of mine eye.

2. Excessively careful; cautious.
   • Jeremy Taylor

     No men are so envious of their health.

3. (obsolete) Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
   • Shakespeare

     Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch.

4. (obsolete, poetic) Inspiring envy.
   • Spenser

     He to him leapt, and that same envious gage / Of victor's glory from him snatched away.

• (excessively cautious): overcautious

• jealous

• niveous, veinous

• enviös, envieus

From Latin invidiōsus.

envious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular enviouse)

1. envious; jealous
   • circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:

     Mez mult part fu cruel e mult fu envious

     But [he] was very cruel and very jealous

• English: envious
• French: envieux
• Norman: envieux