Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Envious \En"vi*ous\, a. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L.
invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See {Envy}, and cf.
{Invidious}.]
1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.]
Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch.
--Shak.
2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or
proceeding from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition,
feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained by the excellence or
good fortune of another; maliciously grudging; -- followed
by of, at, and against; as, an envious man, disposition,
attack; envious tongues.
My soul is envious of mine eye. --Keble.
Neither be thou envious at the wicked. --Prov. xxiv.
19.
3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic]
He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of
victor's glory from him snatched away. --Spenser.
4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.]
No men are so envious of their health. --Jer.
Taylor.
-- {En"vi*ous*ly}, adv. -- {En"vi*ous*ness}, n.
Source : WordNet®
envious
adj : showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's
advantages; "he was never covetous before he met her";
"jealous of his success and covetous of his
possessions"; "envious of their art collection" [syn: {covetous},
{jealous}]