jelousy and envy

[kathryn.girl]

are they the same things ?

[paddywak]

envy
n a feeling of discontent at the good looks, qualities, fortune, etc, of another; an object or person contemplated with grudging or envious feelings; ill-will or hostility ().
2004

jealous
adj suspicious of, or upset or angered by, rivalry; envious; solicitous, anxiously heedful; mistrustfully vigilant; unable to tolerate unfaithfulness, or the thought of it; caused by jealousy.

[Buenchico]

While Paddywak's dictionary definitions give 'envious' as a synonym for 'jealous', I would suggest that 'jealousy' often (probably usually?) involves an element of ill-feeling which is not present with 'envy'.

For instance, if my neighbour wins the lottery I might envy him but (because I wouldn't feel any ill will towards him) it would be wrong to say that I was jealous.

However, if my neighbour stole my girlfriend, I would envy him (because he had the company of the person I wanted to be with) but my additional feelings of ill-will towards him would combine with that envy to create jealousy.

Chris

[kathryn.girl]

thank you chirs and im sure you dont have to worry about your neighbour and your girlfriend :)

[trish432]

I agree with Chris, I am envious of people who win the lottery, but think good luck to them. Jealousy is a completely different feeling, and quite often irrational.