jealous

[ jel-uhs ]

adjective

1. feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often followed by of ):

   He was jealous of his rich brother.

2. feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often followed by of ):

   He was jealous of his brother's wealth.

3. characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment:

   a jealous rage; jealous intrigues.

4. inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims:

   a jealous husband.

5. solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something:

   The American people are jealous of their freedom.

6. Bible. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry:

   The Lord is a jealous God.

jealous

/ ˈdʒɛləs /

adjective

1. suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival

   a jealous lover

2. oftenpostpositive and foll by of resentful (of) or vindictive (towards), esp through envy

   a child jealous of his brother

3. oftenpostpositive and foll by of possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of)

   jealous of one's reputation

4. characterized by or resulting from jealousy
5. obsolete.
   demanding exclusive loyalty

   a jealous God

6. an obsolete word for zealous

Derived Forms

• ˈjealousness, noun
• ˈjealously, adverb

Other Words From

• jealous·ly adverb
• jealous·ness noun
• over·jealous adjective
• over·jealous·ly adverb
• over·jealous·ness noun
• un·jealous adjective
• un·jealous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jealous¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English gelos, jelous, from Old French gelos (compare French jaloux ), from Vulgar Latin zēlōsus (unrecorded), from Late Latin zēl(us) zeal + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of jealous¹

C13: from Old French gelos, from Medieval Latin zēlōsus, from Late Latin zēlus emulation, jealousy, from Greek zēlos zeal

Example Sentences

Marx: I’m very jealous that he has an alcohol company.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is a dark day,” Ben Jealous, the executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement.

From Salon

A "jealous" teenager who stabbed his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend to death has been detained for at least 17 years.

From BBC

In the days before the killing, Holly had ended their relationship, with MacPhail later admitting in court he was "angry" and "jealous".

From BBC

In a series of letters to Andy, Stewart wrote, “I am agonizingly jealous of your other women.”

From Salon

Related Words

• anxious
• apprehensive
• attentive
• envious
• intolerant
• possessive
• protective
• resentful
• skeptical
• suspicious