Etymologically
Log in

jealous

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 11:23. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɛl.əs/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English gelus, jelus, borrowed from Old French gelos, jelous (“keen, zealous; jealous”),[2][3][4] from Medieval Latin zēlōsus, from Christian Latin zēlus (“zeal; jealousy”),[2][4][3] from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “emulation, rivalry, zeal”) (see zeal).[3][5] Zealous is a later borrowing of the same word from Latin.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Distrustful of the faithfulness of a spouse or lover: apparently before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle, in Barnhart;[2] about 1200 in Etymonline, at first in sexual or romantic contexts.[3]

Semantic evolution

In biblical language, of God, tolerating no unfaithfulness, is from the early 13th century.[3][6] In Middle English it also meant fond or amorous (about 1300) and zealous or devoted (1382).[3][6] Apprehensive of losing an advantage to a rival is from about 1385, and in any context from the late 14th century.[6][3] Solicitous for the safety of something possessed, as jealous of one's rights, is from 1387–88,[6] and suspicious or fearful from the 16th century, now dialectal.[6][4] Jealousy is as old as jealous.[2] Etymonline, citing Buck, notes that words for envy usually began as hostile, while words for jealousy often began in a good sense, zeal or emulation.[3]

Timeline

  • before 1200 – jealous of a lover.[2]
  • early 13th century – of God.[3]
  • 1382 – zealous (obsolete).[6]
  • c. 1385 – fearful of a rival's advantage.[6]
  • 1387 – solicitous for something possessed.[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Fearful or suspicious of being replaced by a rival, especially in love.
  2. Resentful of another's success or advantages; envious.
  3. Watchful in protecting something: jealous of their independence.
  4. (Bible) Of God, demanding complete faithfulness.

Word family

  • jealously
  • jealousness
  • overjealous
  • unjealous
  • zeal
  • zealot
  • zealous
  • jealousy

Usage notes

Collins notes that jealous and envious overlap, but jealous properly implies fear of losing what one has, and envious a wish for what another has.[7]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins