Definition: envious
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.
