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.
© Webster 1913. | 
