envier

An envier is a person who feels envy toward someone else's qualities, possessions, or achievements. In modern English, the noun is the primary form; the verb to envy is standard, while envier as a verb is rare and typically literary or archaic. The related adjective envious describes the feeling itself, and envy is the noun for the emotion.

Usage and nuance: An envier is someone who resents another's good fortune rather than merely desiring it. The term can carry a moral or evaluative nuance in literary, religious, or philosophical contexts, signaling persistent or unfounded resentment. In everyday speech, writers often prefer the more common words envy (the emotion) or envious (the adjective) rather than employing envier as a verb or even noun.

Etymology and context: The word is formed from the base noun envy with the agentive suffix -er to denote a person associated with the emotion. It appears in older English and persists in some dictionaries and literary uses today. The broader concept of envy is widely discussed in psychology, philosophy, and literature, with related terms including jealousy and covetousness.

See also: envy, envious, jealousy, covetousness.