different between selfish vs envious

English

Etymology

From self +? -ish. Compare Danish selvisk (“selfish”), Swedish självisk (“selfish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?lf??/
• Rhymes: -?lf??

Adjective

selfish (comparative more selfish or selfisher, superlative most selfish or selfishest)

1. Holding one's own self-interest as the standard for decision making.
   • 1997, John Peniel, The Children Of The Law Of One & The Lost Teachings Of Atlantis, chapter 10, page 127

     “We all have both a selfish separate self, and an Inner Being that is One with the Universal Spirit. In this sense, every human has a sort of ‘split personality’. We are all kind of what you call ‘schitzy’ with these two sides, these two people living within us. And they are in total opposition. The free will dictates which of these two sides will have its way in our life, at every given moment.”

2. Having regard for oneself above others’ well-being.

Usage notes

• Said of people and their thoughts and actions, such as motives, desires, acts.

Synonyms

• egoistic
• egotistic
• egotistical
• self-centered
• greedy

Antonyms

• altruistic
• philanthropic
• selfless
• unselfish

Derived terms

• selfishly
• selfishness

Translations

See also

• self-serving

Anagrams

• Fishels, hisself

English

Etymology

From Middle English envious, from Anglo-Norman envious, from Old French envieus, envious (modern French envieux), from Latin invidi?sus; more at envy. Doublet of invidious, borrowed directly from Latin. Displaced native Old English æfesti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??nv??s/

Adjective

envious (comparative more envious, superlative most envious)

1. Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging
   • My soul is envious of mine eye.

2. Excessively careful; cautious.
   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living

     for no man was ever so amorous, as to love a toad; none so envious, as to repine at the condition of the miserable

3. (obsolete) Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
4. (obsolete, poetic) Inspiring envy.

Synonyms

• (excessively cautious): overcautious

Translations

See also

• jealous

Anagrams

• niveous, veinous

Old French

Alternative forms

• enviös, envieus

Etymology

From Latin invidi?sus.

Adjective

envious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular enviouse)

1. envious; jealous

Descendants

• French: envieux
• Norman: envieux
• ? English: envious