jealous

jealous
\ \ [13] Etymologically, jealousy and zeal are two sides of the same coin. Both come ultimately from Greek zelos. This passed into post-classical Latin as zēlus, which later produced the adjective zēlōsus. Old French took this over as gelos or jelous and passed it on to English. The Greek word denoted ‘jealousy’ as well as ‘fervour, enthusiasm’, and it is this strand of meaning that has come down to us in jealous. Jalousie, incidentally, the French equivalent of jealousy, was borrowed into English in the 19th century in the sense ‘blind, shutter’ – the underlying notion apparently being that one can look through the slats without oneself being seen.
\ \ Cf.ZEAL

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Jealous — Jeal ous, a. [OE. jalous, gelus, OF. jalous, F. jaloux, LL. zelosus zealous, fr. zelus emulation, zeal, jealousy, Gr. zh^los. See {Zeal}, and cf. {Zealous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Zealous; solicitous; vigilant; anxiously watchful. [1913 Webster] I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • jealous — [jel′əs] adj. [ME jelous < OFr gelos < ML zelosus: see ZEAL] 1. very watchful or careful in guarding or keeping [jealous of one s rights] 2. a) resentfully suspicious of a rival or a rival s influence [a husband jealous of other men] b)… …   English World dictionary

  • 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 O.Fr. jalos keen,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • jealous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) envious of someone else s achievements or advantages. 2) resentful of someone regarded as a sexual rival. 3) fiercely protective of one s rights or possessions: they kept a jealous eye over their interests. 4) (of God) demanding… …   English terms dictionary

  • jealous — I adjective begrudging, competitive, covetous, desiring, desirous, discontented, disposed to envy, dissatisfied, distrustful, doubting, envious, greedy, grudging, invidus, lividus, longing, possessive, rival, suspicious II index resentful,… …   Law dictionary

  • jealous — *envious Analogous words: suspicious, mistrustful (see corresponding nouns at UNCERTAINTY): *doubtful, dubious: vigilant, *watchful, alert: distrusting, mistrusting (see DISTRUST) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • jealous — [adj] desirous; wary anxious, apprehensive, attentive, begrudging, covetous, demanding, doubting, emulous, envious, envying, grabby, grasping, green eyed, grudging, guarded, intolerant, invidious, jaundiced, mistrustful, monopolizing, possessive …   New thesaurus

  • jealous — jeal|ous [ˈdʒeləs] adj [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: jelous, from Late Latin zelus; ZEAL] 1.) feeling angry and unhappy because someone has something that you wish you had →↑envious jealous of ▪ Why are you so jealous of his success? ▪… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • jealous — jeal|ous [ dʒeləs ] adjective * 1. ) slightly angry because someone else has something you would like, or can do something you would like to do: I expect some of your colleagues will be jealous. jealous of: Other girls were jealous of her good… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • jealous — adjective 1) he was jealous of his sister s popularity Syn: envious, covetous, desirous; resentful, grudging, begrudging, green (with envy) Ant: proud, admiring 2) a jealous lover Syn …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • jealous */ — UK [ˈdʒeləs] / US adjective 1) unhappy because someone has something that you would like or can do something that you would like to do I expect some of your colleagues will be jealous. jealous of: Other girls were jealous of her good looks. 2)… …   English dictionary

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