En·vy n.; pl. Envies
1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.]
If he evade us there,
Enforce him with his envy to the people. --Shak.
2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Cæsar.
Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us. --Ray.
No bliss
Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. --Milton.
Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave,
Is emulation in the learned or brave. --Pope.
3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.]
Such as cleanliness and decency
Prompt to a virtuous envy. --Ford.
4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.]
To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson.
5. An object of envious notice or feeling.
This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world. --Macaulay.