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.
