En·vy n.; pl. Envies
 1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.]
 If he evade us there,
 Enforce him with his envy to the people.   --Shak.
 2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Cæsar.
    Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us.   --Ray.
 No bliss
 Enjoyed by us excites his envy more.   --Milton.
 Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave,
 Is emulation in the learned or brave.   --Pope.
 3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.]
 Such as cleanliness and decency
 Prompt to a virtuous envy.   --Ford.
 4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.]
    To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero.   --B. Jonson.
 5. An object of envious notice or feeling.
    This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.   --Macaulay.