jealously
Meaning
In a way that shows a jealous feeling of wanting what someone else has or of wanting to keep what you have
In a way that shows a feeling of being suspiciously watchful or protective of something
Structure
Usage
She guarded her research ideas jealously.
He watched jealously as his colleague received the award.
The company jealously protects its brand identity and trade secrets.
Etymology
The word 'jealously' is built upon the adjective 'jealous', which entered English via Old French from the Late Latin 'zelosus', meaning "full of zeal." This Latin term derives from 'zelus', a borrowing of the Greek 'zēlos', signifying fervor, eager rivalry, or jealousy. The core semantic thread from Greek to modern English involves intense, watchful emotion, whether in competitive emulation or in possessive suspicion. The adverbial suffix '-ly', of native Germanic origin, is then appended to form 'jealously', describing the manner of acting with or characterized by such fervent, protective, or envious feeling.
Analysis
- jealous: From Old French 'jalous', from Late Latin 'zelosus', from Latin 'zelus' (zeal, emulation, jealousy), from Greek 'zēlos' (ardor, zeal, jealousy). Functions as the adjective root. - ly: From Old English '-līċe', an adverbial suffix forming adverbs from adjectives. Functions as a derivational suffix.