envious Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
jealous; covetous.
- he was never covetous before he met her
- jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions
- envious of their art collection

OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.

Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. Obs.
Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch. Shak.
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.
Inspiring envy. Obs. or Poetic
He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of victor's glory from him snatched away. Spenser.
Excessively careful; cautious. Obs.
No men are so envious of their health. Jer. Taylor.
-- En"vi*ous*ly, adv. -- En"vi*ous*ness, n.