envy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).

   No bliss enjoyed by us excites his envy more.

2. 2
   noun

   An object of envious notice or feeling.

   This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world[.]

3. 3
   noun

   Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.

   Syre said laūcelot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs therfore whan we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs

4. 4
   noun

   Emulation; rivalry.

   c. 1631-1636, John Ford, The Fancies Chaste and Noble Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy.

5. 5
   noun

   Public odium; ill repute.

   to lay the envy of the war upon Cicero

6. 6
   verb

   To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.

   Moon and Kim took a cable car together to Heaven Lake, a caldera at the top of the mountain, and walked around the area with their wives and officials from both sides. Pictures showed Moon and Kim smiling and posing with their wives, and Moon filling a bottle with water from the lake. “The Chinese envy us because they can’t go down to the lake from their side but we can,” Kim said. “We should write another chapter of history between the North and the South by reflecting our new history on this Heaven Lake.”

7. 7
   verb

   To have envious feelings (at).

   I do not envy at their wealth, titles, offices;[…]let me live quiet and at ease.

8. 8
   verb

   To give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.

   But that sweet Cordiall, which can restore A loue-sick hart, she did to him enuy[…].

Etymology

Etymology tree Old French enviebor. Middle English envie English envy From Middle English envie, from Old French envie, from Latin invidia (“envy”), from invidere (“to look at with malice”), from in- (“on, upon”) + videre (“to look, see”). Doublet of envie. Cognate to Proto-Slavic *zavistь (“envy”). Displaced native Old English æfest and Old English nīþ.