Envious, a.
Etymology: [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.
Shades of meaning
One is envious who cherishes selfish ill will toward another because of his superior success, endowments, possessions, or the like. A person is envious of that which is another's, and to which he himself has no right or claim; he is jealous of intrusion upon that which is his own, or to which he maintains a right or claim. An envious spirit is always bad; a jealous spirit may be good or bad, according to its object and tendency. A free people must be jealous of their liberties if they would retain them. One is suspicious of another from unfavorable indications or from a knowledge of wrong in his previous conduct, or even without reason. Compare doubt.
Prepositions
Envious of (formerly at or against) a person; envious of his wealth or power; envious of him for, because of, on account of his wealth or power.