enviable, envious

enviable, envious
Enviable, meaning "desirable," is a milder (less strong) word than envious, which has the same basic meaning but suggests strong discontent and resentment. Enviable may even be used as an expression of praise: "His solid strength of character is enviable." Envious never implies praise, since it involves both resentment and desire: "Because Bill was envious of his supervisor's position, he tried hard to undercut him."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • enviable — See enviable, envious …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • envious — See enviable, envious …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • envious - enviable — ◊ envious If you are envious, you wish you had something such as a possession, quality, or ability that someone else has. We see them doing things we are not allowed to do, and are envious. I tried hard not to be envious. You say that you are… …   Useful english dictionary

  • envious — [en′vē əs] adj. [ME < OFr envieus < L invidiosus < invidia, ENVY] 1. characterized by envy; feeling, showing, or resulting from envy 2. Obs. a) emulous b) enviable enviously adv. enviousness n …   English World dictionary

  • envious — adjective Date: 13th century 1. feeling or showing envy < envious of their neighbor s new car > < envious looks > 2. archaic a. emulous b. enviable • enviously adverb • envi …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • envious — enviously, adv. enviousness, n. /en vee euhs/, adj. 1. full of, feeling, or expressing envy: envious of a person s success; an envious attack. 2. Archaic. a. emulous. b. enviable. [1250 1300; ME < AF; OF envieus < L invidiosus INVIDIOUS] …   Universalium

  • envious — en•vi•ous [[t]ˈɛn vi əs[/t]] adj. 1) full of, feeling, or expressing envy 2) archaic a) emulous b) enviable • Etymology: 1250–1300; ME < AF; OF envieus < L invidiōsus invidious en′vi•ous•ly, adv. en′vi•ous•ness, n …   From formal English to slang

  • en´vi|ous|ness — en|vi|ous «EHN vee uhs», adjective. 1. feeling or showing discontent because of a wish to have something that someone else has; full of envy: »The weak are often envious of the strong. He was envious of his cousin s success. 2. Obsolete. a)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • en´vi|ous|ly — en|vi|ous «EHN vee uhs», adjective. 1. feeling or showing discontent because of a wish to have something that someone else has; full of envy: »The weak are often envious of the strong. He was envious of his cousin s success. 2. Obsolete. a)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • en|vi|ous — «EHN vee uhs», adjective. 1. feeling or showing discontent because of a wish to have something that someone else has; full of envy: »The weak are often envious of the strong. He was envious of his cousin s success. 2. Obsolete. a) malicious;… …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”