envy
UK[ˈɛnvi]US[ˈɛnvi]
n
The feeling of wanting something that someone else has.
v
To wish that you had something that someone else has.
Etymology
The word 'envy' originates from the Latin verb 'invidere', which literally meant 'to look against' or 'to look maliciously upon'. This was formed from 'in-' (here meaning 'upon' or 'against') and 'videre' (to see), capturing the essence of envy as a hostile or resentful gaze directed at another's good fortune. Through Old French 'envie', it entered Middle English, shedding its overtly Latinate structure while retaining the core concept of covetousness. The modern meaning has softened from its original implication of malice but still fundamentally describes the painful or resentful awareness of another's advantage, rooted in that ancient metaphor of a poisonous look.
Analysis
The word 'envy' is a simplex loanword from Old French 'envie', which itself came from Latin 'invidia' (meaning 'envy, ill will'). The Latin root is 'invidere', meaning 'to look at with malice, to envy', from 'in-' (upon, against) + 'videre' (to see). In its journey into English, the spelling and form condensed into an unsegmentable unit.
Examples
She felt a pang of envy when she saw her friend's new car.
His success in the competition made him the envy of his peers.
I don't envy you the task of organizing such a large event.