emulous

American  

[em-yuh-luhs] / ˈɛm jə ləs /

adjective

1. desirous of equaling or excelling; filled with emulation.

   boys emulous of their fathers.

2. arising from or of the nature of emulation, as actions or attitudes.

3. Obsolete. jealous; envious.

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emulous British  

/ ˈɛmjʊləs /

adjective

1. desiring or aiming to equal or surpass another; competitive

2. characterized by or arising from emulation or imitation

3. archaic envious or jealous

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Other Word Forms

• emulousness
  noun
• nonemulousness
  noun
• nonemulous
  adjective
• unemulous
  adjective
• emulously
  adverb
• nonemulously
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of emulous

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aemulus “vying with”; see -ulous

Explanation

Use the adjective emulous to describe someone who tries to imitate or copy another person. An emulous student might both admire and feel jealous of the teacher he imitates. When you're emulous of a friend, you feel a bit competitive, wanting to do what she does, and to do it better. Younger siblings are sometimes emulous of older brothers or sisters, and art school students might be emulous of established, working artists. When you want to be just like someone, you're emulous, and when you want to surpass that person, you're also emulous. The Latin root is aemulari, "to rival."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emulous

Cultivator of the gardens of the mind, himself the very bud and bloom of humanistic learning, he follows Socrates in having taken as his modus operandi the emulous pursuit of all that is most excellent.

From Time Magazine Archive

I would have you, as now, emulous of superior acquirements; but, at the same time, aware, that in this emulation there would be no jealousy or unkind feelings.

From The Boys' And Girls' Library by Various

English philosophy was too bashful, and should be more emulous in this field of competition.

From Benjamin Franklin; Self-Revealed, Volume II (of 2) A Biographical and Critical Study Based Mainly on his own Writings by Wiliam Cabell Bruce

Groups of young men in gaily-coloured and picturesque coats, were seated in separate circles each possessing a kānūn or other instrument players of its own, emulous to surpass the notes of his neighbour. 

From The Thistle and the Cedar of Lebanon by Habeeb Risk Allah

Motto, "The emulous desire of increase employeth you until ye visit the graves."

From The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Anonymous