invidious

WOTD – 11 July 2007    

English

Etymology

Latin invidiōsus, from invidia (“envy, ill will”), from in- (“upon”) + videō (“I see”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪnˈvɪdiəs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪdiəs

Adjective

invidious (comparative more invidious, superlative most invidious)

1. (of a distinction) offensively or unfairly discriminating

   The professor made invidious distinctions based only on his own whim.

2. (of an action or task) causing ill will towards the actor; causing offense.
3. (of a thing) causing envy or ill will towards the possessor
4. envious, jealous
5. (obsolete) Hateful; odious; detestable

Related terms

• invidiously
• invidiousness

Translations

offensively or unfairly discriminating

• Russian: возмутительный (ru) (vozmutítelʹnyj) (outrageous), несправедливый (ru) (nespravedlívyj) (unfair), пристрастный (ru) (pristrástnyj) (biased)

causing ill will towards the actor; causing offense

causing envy or ill will towards the possessor

envious, jealous

• Russian: завистливый (ru) (zavístlivyj) (envious), ревнивый (ru) (revnívyj) (jealous)

hateful; odious; detestable

• Russian: омерзительный (ru) (omerzítelʹnyj) (repulsive), ненавистный (ru) (nenavístnyj) (hateful)

References

• invidious in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911