Definition: envious

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

envious
     adj 1: showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's
            advantages; "he was never covetous before he met her";
            "jealous of his success and covetous of his
            possessions"; "envious of their art collection"; "he
            was green with envy" [syn: covetous, jealous, green]
     2: that feels envy of another's possessions [syn: begrudging,
         grudging]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Envious \En"vi*ous\, a. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L.
   invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf.
   Invidious.]
   1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.]

            Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch.
                                                  --Shak.

   2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or
      proceeding from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition,
      feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained by the excellence or
      good fortune of another; maliciously grudging; -- followed
      by of, at, and against; as, an envious man, disposition,
      attack; envious tongues.

            My soul is envious of mine eye.       --Keble.

            Neither be thou envious at the wicked. --Prov. xxiv.
                                                  19.

   3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic]

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

   4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.]

            No men are so envious of their health. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.
      -- En"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- En"vi*ous*ness, n.