envy

plural envies

1. countableuncountableResentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).First known use 13th c.

   No bliss enjoyed by us excites his envy more.

   1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 263–264

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   Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave.

   1804, Alexander Pope, The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, page 71

   distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its savour.

   1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody, page 9

   Theodorus assures Socrates that no envy will prevent the Stranger from responding

   1983, Stanley Rosen, Plato's Sophist: The Drama of Original and Image, page 66

2. countableuncountableAn object of envious notice or feeling.

   This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world[.]

   1843, Thomas Macaulay, Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, Carey & Hart, page 277

   1 more example

   Blacke Foryst of Despayr, taking photos of the band Put 'em up on Myspace you're the envy of the land

   2008, Lich King (band), “Black Metal Sucks”, in Toxic Zombie Onslaught

3. countableobsoleteuncountableHatred, enmity, ill-feeling.First known use 14th–18th c.

   But let me tell the World, If he out-liue the enuie of this day, England did neuer owe so sweet a hope, So much misconstrued in his Wantonnesse.

   1598, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1

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   Syre said laūcelot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs therfore whan we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “lij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X

4. countableobsoleteuncountableEmulation; rivalry.

   c. 1631-1636, John Ford, The Fancies Chaste and Noble Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy.

5. countableobsoleteuncountablePublic odium; ill repute.

   to lay the envy of the war upon Cicero

   1611, Ben[jamin] Jonson, Catiline His Conspiracy, London: […] [William Stansby?] for Walter Burre, →OCLC, (please specify the page)

6. countableuncountableA red-skinned variety of eating apple.

present singular third person envies · participle present envying · participle past envied · past envied

1. transitiveTo feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.First known use 14th c.

   1 more example

   Moon and Kim took a cable car together to Heaven Lake, a caldera at the top of the mountain, and walked around the area with their wives and officials from both sides. Pictures showed Moon and Kim smiling and posing with their wives, and Moon filling a bottle with water from the lake. “The Chinese envy us because they can’t go down to the lake from their side but we can,” Kim said. “We should write another chapter of history between the North and the South by reflecting our new history on this Heaven Lake.”

   2018 September 20, Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee, Soyoung Kim, Haejin Choi, Pyongyang Press Corps., “Fulfilling a dream, South Korea's Moon visits sacred North Korean mountain with Kim”, in Lincoln Feast, editor, Reuters, archived from the original on 13 Nov 2018, World News

2. transitiveTo resentfully or discontentedly desire (something someone else has that one lacks).
3. intransitiveobsoleteTo have envious feelings (at).First known use 15th–18th c.

   Who envy at the prosperity of the wicked?

   1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   I do not envy at their wealth, titles, offices;[…]let me live quiet and at ease.

   1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 3

4. obsoletetransitiveTo give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.First known use 16th–18th c.

   But that sweet Cordiall, which can restore A loue-sick hart, she did to him enuy[…].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

5. obsoleteTo show malice or ill will; to rail.

   He has[…]envied against the people.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

6. obsoleteTo do harm to; to injure; to disparage.

   If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me against a wall.

   c. 1621, John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, “The Pilgrim”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

7. obsoleteTo hate.

   Both jealous of my love, envied each other

   c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, (please specify the page)

8. obsoleteTo emulate.

   Let later age that noble vse enuie, Vile rancour to auoid, and cruell surquedrie

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC