Skip to the word

Added 10 October 2026

jealous

/ˈd͡ʒɛl.əs/ adjective

Latin root: zelosus First recorded: 1382 Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about jealous at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages.
he was never covetous before he met her
Suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival.
a jealous lover

Origin

First attested in 1382. From Middle English jelous, gelous, gelus, from Old French jalous, from Late Latin zelosus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”). Doublet of zealous.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word