- Envies
- 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.]
[1913 Webster]
If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. --Ford. [1913 Webster]
4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
5. An object of envious notice or feeling. [1913 Webster]
This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.