envy

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en·vy

[en-vee] noun, plural en·vies, verb, en·vied, en·vy·ing.

noun

a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

an object of envious feeling: Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.

Obsolete. ill will.

verb (used with object)

to regard with envy; be envious of: He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.

verb (used without object)

Obsolete. to be affected with envy.

Origin:
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English envie < Old French < Latin invidia, equivalent to invid(us) envious (derivative of invidēre to envy; see invidious) + -ia -y³; (v.) Middle English envien < Old French envier < Medieval Latin invidiāre, derivative of Latin invidia

Related forms

en·vy·ing·ly, adverb

un·en·vied, adjective

un·en·vy·ing, adjective

un·en·vy·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confused: envy, jealousy (see synonym study at the current entry).

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. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

envy (ˈɛnvɪ)

—n , pl -vies
1.	a feeling of grudging or somewhat admiring discontent aroused by the possessions, achievements, or qualities of another
2.	the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another; covetousness
3.	an object of envy

—vb , -vies, -vies, -vying, -vied
4.	to be envious of (a person or thing)

[C13: via Old French from Latin invidia, from invidēre to eye maliciously, from in-² + vidēre to see]

'envier

—n

'envyingly

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

envy

late 13c., 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

envy

see green with envy.

Example sentences

Many of the entries focus on writers and the theme of literary envy.

So here's a low-cost plan, even if it won't win envy points at the country club.

Their new results firmly show that monkeys can indeed spot unjust deals and

respond with envy and apathy.

Those kinds of distinctions are often based on envy and vanity more than

marginal comfort or real benefit.

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Related Words

jealousy begrudge enviable envier jaundice covet

deadly sins green grudge heartburn heartburning invidious

Idioms & Phrases

green with envy

Matching Quote

"There mark what ills the scholar's life assail,
Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the gaol."

-Samuel Johnson spacer