jealous
- jealous
jealous (
adj.)
c.1200,
gelus, later
jelus (early 14c.), "
possessive and suspicious," originally in the context of sexuality or romance; in general use late 14c.; also in a more positive sense, "
fond, amorous, ardent," from
c.1300, from
O.Fr. jalos "
keen, zealous; avaricious; jealous" (12c., Mod.
Fr. jaloux), from
L.L. zelosus, from
zelus "
zeal," from
Gk. zelos, sometimes "
jealousy," but more often in a good sense ("
emulation, rivalry, zeal"). See
ZEAL (
Cf. zeal). In biblical language (early 13c.) "
tolerating no unfaithfulness."
Most of the words for 'envy' ... had from the outset a hostile force, based on 'look at' (with malice), 'not love,' etc. Conversely, most of those which became distinctive terms for 'jealousy' were originally used also in a good sense, 'zeal, emulation.' [Buck, pp.1138-9]
Among the ways to express this in other tongues are Swed. svartsjuka, lit. "black-sick," from phrase bara svarta strumpor "wear black stockings," also "be jealous." Dan. skinsyg "jealous," lit. "skin-sick," is from skind "hide, skin" said to be explained by Swedish dialectal expression fa skinn "receive a refusal in courtship."
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Jealous — Jeal ous, a. [OE. jalous, gelus, OF. jalous, F. jaloux, LL. zelosus zealous, fr. zelus emulation, zeal, jealousy, Gr. zh^los. See {Zeal}, and cf. {Zealous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Zealous; solicitous; vigilant; anxiously watchful. [1913 Webster] I… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
jealous — [jel′əs] adj. [ME jelous < OFr gelos < ML zelosus: see ZEAL] 1. very watchful or careful in guarding or keeping [jealous of one s rights] 2. a) resentfully suspicious of a rival or a rival s influence [a husband jealous of other men] b)… … English World dictionary
jealous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) envious of someone else s achievements or advantages. 2) resentful of someone regarded as a sexual rival. 3) fiercely protective of one s rights or possessions: they kept a jealous eye over their interests. 4) (of God) demanding… … English terms dictionary
jealous — I adjective begrudging, competitive, covetous, desiring, desirous, discontented, disposed to envy, dissatisfied, distrustful, doubting, envious, greedy, grudging, invidus, lividus, longing, possessive, rival, suspicious II index resentful,… … Law dictionary
jealous — *envious Analogous words: suspicious, mistrustful (see corresponding nouns at UNCERTAINTY): *doubtful, dubious: vigilant, *watchful, alert: distrusting, mistrusting (see DISTRUST) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
jealous — [adj] desirous; wary anxious, apprehensive, attentive, begrudging, covetous, demanding, doubting, emulous, envious, envying, grabby, grasping, green eyed, grudging, guarded, intolerant, invidious, jaundiced, mistrustful, monopolizing, possessive … New thesaurus
jealous — jeal|ous [ˈdʒeləs] adj [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: jelous, from Late Latin zelus; ZEAL] 1.) feeling angry and unhappy because someone has something that you wish you had →↑envious jealous of ▪ Why are you so jealous of his success? ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
jealous — jeal|ous [ dʒeləs ] adjective * 1. ) slightly angry because someone else has something you would like, or can do something you would like to do: I expect some of your colleagues will be jealous. jealous of: Other girls were jealous of her good… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
jealous — adjective 1) he was jealous of his sister s popularity Syn: envious, covetous, desirous; resentful, grudging, begrudging, green (with envy) Ant: proud, admiring 2) a jealous lover Syn … Thesaurus of popular words
jealous */ — UK [ˈdʒeləs] / US adjective 1) unhappy because someone has something that you would like or can do something that you would like to do I expect some of your colleagues will be jealous. jealous of: Other girls were jealous of her good looks. 2)… … English dictionary
