Envy — Defs

01 n. Malice; ill will; spite.

pl. Envies ((#))

1.
Malice; ill will; spite.[Obs.]
“If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people.” — Shak.
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 Cæsar.
“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.

“No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more.” — Milton.

“Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave.” — Pope.
3.
Emulation; rivalry.[Obs.]
“Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy.” — Ford.
4.
Public odium; ill repute.[Obs.]
“To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero.” — B. Jonson.
5.
An object of envious notice or feeling.
“This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.” — Macaulay.

02 v. t. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sig…

imp. & p. p. Envied; p. pr. & vb. n. Envying

1.
To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.
“A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty.” — Collier.

“Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.” — Rambler.
2.
To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
“I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behavior.” — Shak.

“Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes.” — Froude.
3.
To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
“Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share.” — T. Gray.
4.
To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.[Obs.]
“If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me against a wall.” — J. Fletcher.
5.
To hate.[Obs.]
6.
To emulate.[Obs.]

03 v. i. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at.

1.
To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at.
“Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked?” — Jer. Taylor.
2.
To show malice or ill will; to rail.[Obs.]