Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Envy?

\En"vy\, n.; pl. {Envies}. [F. envie, L. invidia envious; akin to invidere to look askance at, to look with enmity; in against + videre to see. See {Vision}.] 1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.] If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people. --Shak. 2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of C[ae]sar. Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us. --Ray. No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. --Milton. Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave. --Pope. 3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. --Ford. 4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.] To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson. 5. An object of envious notice or feeling. This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world. --Macaulay.
\En"vy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Envied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Envying}.] [F. envier.] 1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it. A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty. --Collier. Whoever envies another confesses his superiority. --Rambler. 2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge. I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behavior. --Shak. Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes. --Froude. 3. To long after; to desire strongly; to covet. Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share. --T. Gray. 4. To do harm to; to injure; to disparage. [Obs.] If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me against a wall. --J. Fletcher. 5. To hate. [Obs.] --Marlowe. 6. To emulate. [Obs.] --Spenser.
\En"vy\, v. i. 1. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at. Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked? --Jer. Taylor. 2. To show malice or ill will; to rail. [Obs.] ``He has . . . envied against the people.'' --Shak.