en·vy
(ĕńvē)
[Middle English envie, from Old French, from Latin invidia, from invidus, envious, from invidēre, to look at with envy, in-, in, on; see en–1, + vidēre, to see, V., from Middle English envien, from Old French envier, from Latin invidēre.]
noun: pl., -vies.
- A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
- The object of such feeling: Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors.
- Obsolete Malevolence.
transitive verb: -vied, -vy·ing, -vies.
- To feel envy toward.
- To regard with envy.
derivatives
- eńvi·er
- noun
- eńvy·ing·ly
- adverb
synonyms:
envy, begrudge, covet These verbs mean to feel resentful or painful desire for another's advantages or possessions. Envy, the most general, combines discontent, resentment, and desire: “When I peruse the conquered fame of heroes and the victories of mighty generals, I do not envy the generals” (Walt Whitman) Begrudge stresses ill will and reluctance to acknowledge another's right or claim: Why begrudge him his success? Covet stresses a secret or culpable longing for something to which one has no right: “We hate no people and covet no people's lands” (Wendell L. Willkie)
