emulous

[ em-yuh-luh s ]

/ ˈɛm yə ləs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR emulous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

desirous of equaling or excelling; filled with emulation: boys emulous of their fathers.

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

Obsolete. jealous; envious.

RELATED WORDS

aspiring, competitive, rivalrous

Nearby words

Origin of emulous

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin aemulus vying with; see -ulous

Related forms

em·u·lous·ly, adverbem·u·lous·ness, nounnon·em·u·lous, adjectivenon·em·u·lous·ly, adverb

non·em·u·lous·ness, nounun·em·u·lous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for emulous

Women of all descriptions were emulous of attracting his Royal Highness's attention.
Beaux and Belles of England|Mary Robinson
The latter were as emulous to fight the battle of their master as those who had been sent to the new road.
Brother Against Brother|Oliver Optic
Both of them left it wounded; and fought another also on Agdar Ness with an emulous thirst for glory.
The Danish History, Books I-IX|Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Learned")
It has long been my wont to share our city's passion for noble-natured souls, alert and emulous in pursuit of virtue.
The Symposium|Xenophon

Religious sects, parties, and societies were emulous in conciliating southern adhesions or contributions and averting schisms.
A History of American Christianity|Leonard Woolsey Bacon

British Dictionary definitions for emulous

emulous

/ (ˈɛmjʊləs) /

adjective

desiring or aiming to equal or surpass another; competitive

characterized by or arising from emulation or imitation

archaic envious or jealous

Derived Formsemulously, adverbemulousness, noun

Word Origin for emulous

C14: from Latin aemulus rivalling; see emulate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for emulous

emulous

adj.

late 14c., from Latin aemulus, from aemulari (see emulation). Related: Emulously.