envy

noun ( pl. -vies) 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. • ( the envy of) a person or thing that inspires such a feeling : their national health service is the envy of many in Europe. verb ( -vies, -vied) [ trans. ] desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else) : he envied people who did not have to work on weekends | [with two objs. ] I envy Jane her happiness. • desire for oneself (something possessed or enjoyed by another) : a lifestyle that most of us would envy.