invidious

Borrowed from Latin invidiōsus, from invidia (“envy, ill will”), from in- (“upon”) + videō (“I see”). Doublet of envious, from Old French.

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈvɪdi.əs/
• (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪdiəs

invidious (comparative more invidious, superlative most invidious)

1. (of a distinction) Offensively or unfairly discriminating.
   • 1891, Henry James, The Marriages:

     "Yes, you must have a lot of places," the Colonel observed, looking at her shining raiment with a sort of invidious directness.

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. (obsolete) Envious, jealous.
5. (obsolete) Detestable, hateful, odious.

• invidiously
• invidiousness

• indignation

• invidious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• “invidious” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.