Meanings
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1
adj
Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging.
An envious man, disposition, or attack; envious tongues.
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2
adj
Excessively careful; cautious.
For no man was ever so amorous, as to love a toad; none so envious, as to repine at the condition of the miserable.
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3
adj
Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch.
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4
adj
Inspiring envy.
He to him leapt, and that same envious gage / Of victors glory from him snatcht away.
Thesaurus
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.