Envy
/ˈɛnvi/noun
A feeling of resentful desire for someone else's possessions, qualities, or success.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin *invidia*, tied to *invidere*—literally “to look against” or “to look with hatred,” which is why envy has long been treated as a dangerous, almost cursed gaze.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weid-
“to see, know”
Latin
Latin
invidēre
“to look at with ill will; to begrudge”
Latin
Latin
invidia
“envy; jealousy; ill will”
Old French
Old French
envie
“envy; desire; malice”
Middle English
English
envie
“envy; hostile resentment”
Modern English
English
envy
“resentful desire for another's advantages”