jealous English · revision 6576

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=grc ζῆλος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɛl.əs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English gelus, jelus, [[bor|fro|gelos|alt=gelos, jelous|t=keen, zealous; jealous]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-med|zēlōsus]], from Christian Latin [[m|la|zēlus|t=zeal; jealousy]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[grc|ζῆλος|tr=zêlos|t=emulation, rivalry, zeal]] (see [[zeal]]).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) [[zealous|alt=Zealous]] is a later borrowing of the same word from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Distrustful of the faithfulness of a spouse or lover: apparently before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'', in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1200 in Etymonline, at first in sexual or romantic contexts.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In biblical language, of God, tolerating no unfaithfulness, is from the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In Middle English it also meant fond or amorous (about 1300) and zealous or devoted (1382).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Apprehensive of losing an advantage to a rival is from about 1385, and in any context from the late 14th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Solicitous for the safety of something possessed, as ''jealous of one's rights'', is from 1387–88,^(OED 1989) and suspicious or fearful from the 16th century, now dialectal.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) [[jealousy|alt=Jealousy]] is as old as jealous.^(Barnhart 1988) 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.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – jealous of a lover.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – of God.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1382 – zealous (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1385 – fearful of a rival's advantage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1387 – solicitous for something possessed.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fearful or suspicious of being replaced by a rival, especially in love.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Resentful of another's success or advantages; [[envious]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Watchful in protecting something: ''jealous of their independence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Bible)'' Of God, demanding complete faithfulness.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[jealously]]

+ * [[jealousness]]

+ * [[overjealous]]

+ * [[unjealous]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[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.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}