invidia

Invidia is a Latin noun meaning envy, often accompanied by ill will or resentment toward another’s advantages. The corresponding verb invidere means to envy or to begrudge, and to look upon with disapproval or antagonism. In Latin, invidia can refer to the feeling itself, to the social harm it causes, or to the discredit that comes from others’ success.

In classical usage, invidia describes both personal emotion and the negative social effects it can produce, such as gossip, slander, or attempts to tarnish someone’s reputation. It can denote public disfavor or a sense of discredit attached to a person or action. The term appears in moral, political, and rhetorical contexts, often shaping discussions of character, reputation, and social harmony.

In some texts, Invidia is treated as a personification—a goddess-like figure or abstract force representing envy and the spite it generates. As a literary symbol, she conveys how covetousness and hostile comparison can drive actions and misfortune, sometimes depicted as sly or stealthy and capable of undermining others from the shadows.

In modern and scholarly usage, invidia survives as the root of the word envy in Romance languages and remains a common term in discussions of psychology, ethics, and literature. In Christian and medieval Latin, envy (invidia) is frequently listed among the vices associated with the seven deadly sins, underscoring its historical moral significance.