absit invidia
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Latin. As found, for example, in Livy, Ab Urbe Condita Book IX, Chapter 19, line 15.
Phrase edit
absit invidia
- Literally, "may envy be lacking (from my words)".
- 1656 (N.S.), George Davenport, The Letters of George Davenport, 1651-1677 2011 publication
- I long as old Eli did (verbo absit invidia) to hear what is become of the ark; but fear I shall not hear what I desire, and my answer shall be with the daughter in law translata est gloria Dei de—.
- Comment: "Translata est gloria Dei de ..." is a slight paraphrase from 1 Samuel 4:22.
- 1778, Thomas Campbell, “Letter XXXI”, in A Philosophical Survey of the South of Ireland: In a Series of Letters to John Watkinson, M.D., page 291:
- What most evidently prevailed, absit invidia, and what betrayed her into all the Chesterfieldian indecorums of laughter, was his addressing her in Irish.
- 1842, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, from the Birth of Jesus Christ Until the Year MDCXLVIII (James Nichols, London, 3rd edition) p.401
- I have done with the Oxford Bacons : only let me add, that those of Cambridge, father and son, Nicholas and Francis, the one of Bene't, and the other of Trinity-College, do hold (absit invidia ! ) the scales of desert, even against all of their name in all of the world besides.
- 1656 (N.S.), George Davenport, The Letters of George Davenport, 1651-1677 2011 publication
Usage notes edit
The phrase was used to deflect the "evil eye" from a statement describing excellence. That is, the hubris of the braggart was feared to attract jealous deities. [1] The English no offense has an entirely different connotation.