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Webster 1913 Edition


Jealousy

Jeal′ous-y

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Jealousies
(#)
.
[ F.
jalousie
. See
Jealous
, and cf.
Jalousie
.]
The quality of being jealous; earnest concern or solicitude; painful apprehension of rivalship in cases directly 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.

Webster 1828 Edition


Jealousy

JEALOUSY

,
Noun.
jel'usy.
1.
That passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves. A man's jealousy is excited by the attentions of a rival to his favorite lady. A woman's jealousy is roused by her husband's attentions to another woman. The candidate for office manifests a jealousy of others who seek the same office. The jealousy of a student is awakened by the apprehension that his fellow will bear away the palm of praise. In short,jealousy is awakened by whatever may exalt others, or give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves. Jealousy is nearly allied to envy, for jealousy, before a good is lost by ourselves, is converted into envy, after it is obtained by others.
Jealousy is the apprehension of superiority.
Whoever had qualities to alarm our jealousy, had excellence to deserve our fondness.
2.
Suspicious fear or apprehension.
3.
Suspicious caution or vigilance, an earnest concern or solicitude for the welfare or honor of others. Such was Paul's godly jealousy for the Corinthians.
4.
Indignation. God's jealousy signifies his concern for his own character and government, with a holy indignation against those who violate his laws, and offend against his majesty. Ps.79.

Definition 2024


jealousy

jealousy

English

Noun

jealousy (countable and uncountable, plural jealousies)

  1. (uncountable) A state of suspicious guarding towards a spouse, lover etc., from fears of infidelity.
  2. (countable) A resentment towards someone for a perceived advantage or superiority they hold.
    • 1907, Charles J. Archard, The Portland Peerage Romance:
      Jealousy was, however, aroused among the English nobility at the favouritism shown the Dutch newcomer.
  3. Envy towards another's possessions
    • 1891, Louis Antoine Fauvelet De Bourrienne, translated by R. W. Phipps, Memoirs Of Napoleon Bonaparte:
      [] the jealousy of his foes of each other's share in the booty [].
  4. (archaic) A close concern for someone or something, solicitude, vigilance.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter vij, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII:
      For euer I supoosed that he had ben to yonge and to tendyr to take vpon hym these aduentures / And therfore by my wille I wold haue dryuen hym aweye for Ialousy that I had of his lyf / for it maye be no yong knyghtes dede that shal enchyeue this aduenture to the ende

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