enviable
/ˈɛn.vi.ə.bl̩/
Meaning
Arousing or likely to arouse envy.
Examples
Sundrie other Gent[lemen] reſt beholden to this hundred, for their dvvellings, vvho, in an enuiable mediocritie of fortune, do happilie poſſeſſe themſelues, and communicate their ſufficient means to the ſeruice of their prince, the good of their neighbours, and the bettering of their ovvn eſtate: […]
In the course I have taken, I have met, and do daily meet, so many vexations, that I may with truth assure you, that my situation is anything rather than enviable, though it is my happiness to act with those that are far the best that probably ever were engaged in the public service of this country at any time.
To superficial observers it might well seem that William [III of England] was, at this time, one of the most enviable of human beings. He was in truth one of the most anxious and unhappy.
He [Douglas William Jerrold] had achieved many enviable dramatic successes before this time.
This quarter of the city had at that time anything but an enviable reputation. To venture there at night was considered so dangerous that the soldiers from the outlying forts who came in to Paris with permission to go to the theatre, were ordered to halt at the barrière, and not to pass through the perilous district excepting in parties of three or four.
Word Forms
more enviable
most enviable
Etymology
Etymology tree
Old French enviebor.
Middle English envie
English envy
Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis
Proto-Italic *-ðlis
Latin -bilis
Latin -ābilis
Old French -ablebor.
Middle English -able
English -able
English enviable
From envy + -able (suffix meaning ‘able or fit to be done’ forming adjectives).