envy

The story

1. Old Frenchenvie
2. Middle Englishenvie
3. English todayenvy

From Middle English envie, from Old French envie, from Latin invidia (“envy”), from invidere (“to look at with malice”), from in- (“on, upon”) + videre (“to look, see”). Doublet of envie. Cognate to Proto-Slavic *zavistь (“envy”). Displaced native Old English æfest and nīþ.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).
• 14th–18th c. Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.
• from 14th c. To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.
• 15th–18th c. To have envious feelings (at).
• 16th–18th c. To give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.