envy English · revision 15457

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=ine-pro *weyd-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛnvi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|envie]], [[bor|fro|envie|t=envy, jealousy, rivalry]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|invidia|t=envy, ill will]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|invidus|t=envious]], from [[m|la|invideō|t=to look at with malice, cast an evil eye upon]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[m|la|in|t=upon]] and [[m|la|videō|t=to see]], from [[ine-pro|*weyd-|t=to see]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ill will at another's good fortune: about 1280 in Barnhart and the OED, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Early senses included hostility, enmity and malice.^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb is from before 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988) Envy is one of the seven deadly sins.^(Cresswell 2021) Active harm or mischief is an obsolete sense from before 1400,^(OED 1989) and the object of envy is from 1836.^(OED 1989) The Century Dictionary distinguished jealousy, ill will toward a rival for something one desires, from envy, ill will toward someone who already has it.^(Etymonline) Enviable is from 1602.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – ill will at another's good fortune.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1300 – malice, enmity (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1382 – to envy (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – enviable.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1836 – an object of envy.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling of resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities or luck.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The person or thing that arouses such a feeling: ''the envy of the town''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To feel envy of someone or something; to wish to have what another has.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[envier]]

+ * [[envyingly]]

+ * [[envious]]

+ * [[unenvying]]

+ * [[penis envy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[enviable]]

+ * [[invidious]]

+ * [[vision]]

+ * [[jealousy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In East Anglian dialect to envy meant to wish for or desire, as ''not to envy a dish'', not to care to eat it.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}