Envy - Definition


Envy - Definition

Emotions
Acceptance Anger Anticipation Boredom Disgust Envy Fear Guilt Hate Joy Jealousy Love Remorse Sorrow Surprise

Envy is an emotion experienced by one who intensely desires something possessed by another. The basis of envy is the desire to possess, not the desire to deprive others, although if the object in question is the only one available then deprivation will be consequential.

Envy is often associated with the colour green, as in "green with envy". The phrase "green-eyed monster" refers to an individual whose current actions appear motivated by envy.

Envy is generally considered an unpleasant emotion to feel, as well as being responsible for unpleasant behaviour towards others. Historically it has been listed as one of the seven deadly sins.

A religious term for envy is covetousness, which is forbidden by the Ten Commandments in the Bible.

Contents

1 Definitions

2 Resentment and Envy

3 Aristotle on Envy

4 See also

Definitions

Resentment and Envy Envy --� A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. The object of such feeling: Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors. Obsolete. Malevolence. To feel envy toward. To regard with envy.

[Middle English envie, from Old French, from Latin invidia, from invidus, envious, from invidre, to look at with envy : in-, in, on; see en-1 + vidre, to see; see weid- in Indo-European Roots. V., from Middle English envien from Old French envier, from Latin invidre.]

Synonyms: envy, begrudge, covet These verbs mean to feel resentful or painful desire for another's advantages or possessions. Envy, the most general, combines discontent, resentment, and desire: �When I peruse the conquered fame of heroes and the victories of mighty generals, I do not envy the generals� (Walt Whitman). Begrudge stresses ill will and reluctance to acknowledge another's right or claim: Why begrudge him his success? Covet stresses a secret or culpable longing for something to which one has no right: �We hate no people and covet no people's lands� (Wendell L. Willkie). Source: The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright � 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.

\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. [Obs.] If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me against a wall. --J. Fletcher. 5. To hate. [Obs.] --Marlowe. 6. To emulate. [Obs.] --Spenser. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

\En"vy\, n.; pl. Envies. [F. envie, L. invidia envious; akin to invidere to look askance at, to look with enmity; in against + videre to see. See Vision.] 1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.] If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people. --Shak. 2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of C[ae]sar. Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us. --Ray. No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. --Milton. Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave. --Pope. 3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.] Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. --Ford. 4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.] To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson. 5. An object of envious notice or feeling. This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world. --Macaulay. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

\En"vy\, v. i. 1. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at. Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked? --Jer. Taylor. 2. To show malice or ill will; to rail. [Obs.] ``He has . . . envied against the people. --Shak. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. n 1: a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something possessed by another [syn: enviousness, the green-eyed monster] 2: spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins) [syn: invidia] v 1: feel envious towards; admire enviously 2: be envious of; set one's heart on [syn: begrudge] invidia n : spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins) [syn: envy]

jealousy \Jeal"ous*y\, n.; pl. Jealousies. [ F. jalousie. See Jealous, and cf. Jalousie.] The quality of being jealous; earnest concern or solicitude; painful apprehension of rivalship in cases nearly affecting one's happiness; painful suspicion of the faithfulness of husband, wife, or lover. I was jealous for jealousy. --Zech. viii. 2. Jealousy is the . . . apprehension of superiority. --Shenstone. Whoever had qualities to alarm our jealousy, had excellence to deserve our fondness. --Rambler. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, � 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. n 1: a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival) [syn: green-eyed monster] 2: zealous vigilance; "cherish their official political freedom with fierce jealousy"-Paul Blanshard

Resentment and Envy

(based on Merold Westphal, God, Guilt and Death, Indiana University Press; Reprint edition (February 1, 1987)

In contrast to greed, envy doesn�t just want what the other has (good looks, say), but I must have it at the other�s expense

 o	�I can forgive everything but not that you are � that you are what you are � that I am not what you are � indeed that I am not you.

Resentment can come from the following being repressed:

 o	Revenge, hatred,  malice, impulse to detract, spite, rancor, wrath, envy, joy when another fails
 o	Envy becomes resentment when it can�t be dissipated
 o	Envy is self-centeredness in the face of another�s excellence or something esteemed
 o	One thinks: �What about me? What happens to me if they are better than I am?�
 o	Envy reflects the threat I feel to my self at the center of all that I find important about and in life

Aristotle on Envy

(from the [Rhetoric http://www.public.iastate.edu/~honeyl/Rhetoric/rhet2-10.html])

To take Envy next: we can see on what grounds, against what persons, and in what states of mind we feel it. Envy is pain at the sight of such good fortune as consists of the good things already mentioned; we feel it towards our equals; not with the idea of getting something for ourselves, but because the other people have it. We shall feel it if we have, or think we have, equals; and by 'equals' I mean equals in birth, relationship, age, disposition, distinction, or wealth. We feel envy also if we fall but a little short of having everything; which is why people in high place and prosperity feel it-they think every one else is taking what belongs to themselves. Also if we are exceptionally distinguished for some particular thing, and especially if that thing is wisdom or good fortune. Ambitious men are more envious than those who are not. So also those who profess wisdom; they are ambitious to be thought wise. Indeed, generally, those who aim at a reputation for anything are envious on this particular point. And small-minded men are envious, for everything seems great to them. The good things which excite envy have already been mentioned. The deeds or possessions which arouse the love of reputation and honour and the desire for fame, and the various gifts of fortune, are almost all subject to envy; and particularly if we desire the thing ourselves, or think we are entitled to it, or if having it puts us a little above others, or not having it a little below them. It is clear also what kind of people we envy; that was included in what has been said already: we envy those who are near us in time, place, age, or reputation. Hence the line:

"Ay, kin can even be jealous of their kin. "

Also our fellow-competitors, who are indeed the people just mentioned-we do not compete with men who lived a hundred centuries ago, or those not yet born, or the dead, or those who dwell near the Pillars of Hercules, or those whom, in our opinion or that of others, we take to be far below us or far above us. So too we compete with those who follow the same ends as ourselves: we compete with our rivals in sport or in love, and generally with those who are after the same things; and it is therefore these whom we are bound to envy beyond all others. Hence the saying: "Potter against potter. "

We also envy those whose possession of or success in a thing is a reproach to us: these are our neighbours and equals; for it is clear that it is our own fault we have missed the good thing in question; this annoys us, and excites envy in us. We also envy those who have what we ought to have, or have got what we did have once. Hence old men envy younger men, and those who have spent much envy those who have spent little on the same thing. And men who have not got a thing, or not got it yet, envy those who have got it quickly. We can also see what things and what persons give pleasure to envious people, and in what states of mind they feel it: the states of mind in which they feel pain are those under which they will feel pleasure in the contrary things. If therefore we ourselves with whom the decision rests are put into an envious state of mind, and those for whom our pity, or the award of something desirable, is claimed are such as have been described, it is obvious that they will win no pity from us.