En″vy, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Envied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Envying.] [F. envier.] 1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.
A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty. Collier.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority. Rambler.
2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behavior. Shak.
Jeffrey... had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes. Froude.
3. To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share. T. Gray.
4. To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.
If I make a lie
To gain your love and envy my best mistress,
Put me against a wall. J. Fletcher.
5. To hate. Marlowe.
6. To emulate. Spenser.