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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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