The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
ENVIOUS
covetous, envious, jealous
(adjective) showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages; “he was never covetous before he met her”; “jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions”; “envious of their art collection”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
envious (comparative more envious, superlative most envious)
Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging
Excessively careful; cautious.
(obsolete) Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
(obsolete, poetic) Inspiring envy.
Synonyms
• (excessively cautious): overcautious
Anagrams
• niveous, veinous
Source: Wiktionary
En"vi*ous, a. Etym: [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.] Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch. Shak.
2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or proceeding from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition, feeling, act, etc.; jealously pained by the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging; -- followed by of, at, and against; as, an envious man, disposition, attack; envious tongues. My soul is envious of mine eye. Keble. Neither be thou envious at the wicked. Prov. xxiv. 19.
3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic] He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of victor's glory from him snatched away. Spenser.
4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.] No men are so envious of their health. Jer. Taylor.
– En"vi*ous*ly, adv.
– En"vi*ous*ness, n.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
26 June 2025
DISPIRITEDLY
(adverb) in a dispirited manner without hope; “the first Mozartian opera to be subjected to this curious treatment ran dispiritedly for five performances”
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