jealous
- feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often followed by of): He was jealous of his rich brother.
- feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often followed by of): He was jealous of his brother's wealth.
- characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment: a jealous rage; jealous intrigues.
- inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims: a jealous husband.
- solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something: The American people are jealous of their freedom.
- Bible. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry: The Lord is a jealous God.
Origin of jealous
Related Words
skepticalenviousprotectiveanxioussuspiciousapprehensivepossessiveresentfulintolerantattentivecovetousdemandinggraspinggreen-eyedguardedinvidiousjaundicedquestioningrivalsolicitousExamples from the Web for jealous
Contemporary Examples
His acolytes, some of whom refer to themselves as “health freedom fighters” are undeterred by this sort of jealous shoptalk.
Honey Boo Boo, Snake Oil, and Ebola: The Weird World of Young Living Essential OilsKent Sepkowitz
December 5, 2014
Jealous of her young male friend who was permitted to ride his bike around shirtless, she once ripped off her top, too.
Speed Read: Lena Dunham’s Most Shocking Confessions From ‘Not That Kind of Girl’Kevin Fallon
September 26, 2014
It even makes Cersei jealous to the point where she calls her out on it at the Purple Wedding.
Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie on Brienne of Tarth’s Epic S4 Finale Showdown with The HoundMarlow Stern
June 16, 2014
Elle.com published a piece entitled “Why This Photo of Gisele Bündchen Breastfeeding Makes Me Jealous.”
The behavior of Tyrion towards Sansa is part of what makes her jealous.
Game of Thrones’ Sibel Kekilli Discusses Shae’s Treachery at the Trial of Tyrion LannisterMarlow Stern
May 13, 2014
Historical Examples
Not that in his presence she became vain or petty or jealous; that would have been impossible.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
To his jealous eyes came a vision of that excursion to the hospital.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
Even the most jealous of that most jealous of professions, surgery, had to admit that he got results.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
No one ever felt this intensity of jealous rage about a mother or a sister.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
In reality they were jealous of each other with an inconceivable intensity.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
jealous
- suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rivala jealous lover
- (often postpositive and foll by of) resentful (of) or vindictive (towards), esp through envya child jealous of his brother
- (often postpositive and foll by of) possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of)jealous of one's reputation
- characterized by or resulting from jealousy
- obsolete, or biblical demanding exclusive loyaltya jealous God
- an obsolete word for zealous
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for 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 Old French jalos "keen, zealous; avaricious; jealous" (12c., Modern French jaloux), from Late Latin zelosus, from zelus "zeal," from Greek zelos, sometimes "jealousy," but more often in a good sense ("emulation, rivalry, zeal"). See 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 Swedish svartsjuka, literally "black-sick," from phrase bara svarta strumpor "wear black stockings," also "be jealous." Danish skinsyg "jealous," literally "skin-sick," is from skind "hide, skin" said to be explained by Swedish dialectal expression fa skinn "receive a refusal in courtship."