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Envy vs. Covet — What's the Difference?

Envy vs. Covet — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Envy and Covet

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Envy

Envy (from Latin invidia) is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another's good fortune, stirred by "those who have what we ought to have". Bertrand Russell said that envy was one of the most potent causes of unhappiness.

Covet

Yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another)
I covet one of their smart bags

Envy

A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck
She felt a twinge of envy for the people on board

Covet

To feel strong or immoderate desire for (that which is another's).

Envy

Desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to (someone else)
I envy Jane her happiness
He envied people who did not have to work at the weekends
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Covet

To wish for (something) longingly.

Envy

A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. See Usage Note at jealous.

Covet

To covet that which is another's.

Envy

The object of such feeling
Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors.

Covet

(transitive) To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, often enviously.

Envy

(Obsolete) Malevolence.

Covet

(transitive) To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).

Envy

To feel envy toward (another person).

Covet

(intransitive) To yearn; to have or indulge an inordinate desire, especially for another's possession.

Envy

To regard (something) with envy.

Covet

To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; - used in a good sense.
Covet earnestly the best gifts.
If it be a sin to covet honor,I am the most offending soul alive.

Envy

Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).

Covet

To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

Envy

An object of envious notice or feeling.

Covet

To have or indulge inordinate desire.
Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.

Envy

(obsolete) Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.

Covet

Wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person);
She covets her sister's house

Envy

(obsolete) Emulation; rivalry.

Envy

(obsolete) Public odium; ill repute.

Envy

A red-skinned variety of eating apple.

Envy

(transitive) To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.

Envy

(transitive) To resentfully or discontentedly desire (something someone else has that one lacks).

Envy

To have envious feelings (at).

Envy

To give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.

Envy

(obsolete) To show malice or ill will; to rail.

Envy

(obsolete) To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.

Envy

(obsolete) To hate.

Envy

(obsolete) To emulate.

Envy

Malice; ill will; spite.
If he evade us there,Enforce him with his envy to the people.

Envy

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.
No blissEnjoyed by us excites his envy more.
Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave,Is emulation in the learned or brave.

Envy

Emulation; rivalry.
Such as cleanliness and decencyPrompt to a virtuous envy.

Envy

Public odium; ill repute.
To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero.

Envy

An object of envious notice or feeling.
This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.

Envy

To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.
A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.

Envy

To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
I have seen thee fight,When I have envied thy behavior.
Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes.

Envy

To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share.

Envy

To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.
If I make a lieTo gain your love and envy my best mistress,Put me against a wall.

Envy

To hate.

Envy

To emulate.

Envy

To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; - used especially with at.
Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked?

Envy

To show malice or ill will; to rail.

Envy

A feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something possessed by another

Envy

Spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins)

Envy

Feel envious towards; admire enviously

Envy

Be envious of; set one's heart on

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