emulousadj.
/ˈɛmjʊləs/ 1. † b. Of things: closely resembling, imitative of. Obsolete. rare.
a. Desirous of rivalling, imitating, obtaining. Const. of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > imitation > [adjective]
imitative1573
imitating1591
mimeticala1617
emulous1667
eicastic1669
mimetic1669
imitative1700
imitational1833
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [adjective] > rival > desirous of rivalling or emulating
emulous1667
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > aspiration or ambition > [adjective] > aspiring to be or imitating
emulousa1721
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 822 By strength They measure all, of other excellence Not emulous . View more context for this quotation
a1721 M. Prior Ep. Mr. Howard 59 Good Howard, emulous of the Grecian art.
1796 E. Burke Two Lett. Peace Regicide Directory France in Wks. (1808) VIII. 291 Emulous of the glory of the youthful hero.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. x. 147 Emulous of Messrs. Aaron, Levi, and the rest of the class.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xviii. 303 Kingdoms emulous of free institutions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adjective] > closely resembling
emulous1398
close1719
near-resembling1739
lookalike1904
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) vii. lxiv. 280 In theym that haue the Lepra that hyghte Elephancia the colour and hewe is emulous.
2. Filled with emulation; actuated by the spirit of rivalry. †Formerly also in weaker sense: = rival adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [adjective] > competing
rival1592
emulative1593
emulating1610
corrivinga1618
emulous1617
corrival1646
comparative1654
rivalling1668
contesting1697
rivalrous1831
co-rival1832
competing1862
1617 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. I. 147 The fire issuing from God upon their [Moses' and Aaron's] emulous opposites.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. v. 164 The two æmulous Suiters.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iv. ii. 394 The emulous schooles of Sammai, and Hillel.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. vi. 105 Æmulous the royal robes they lave.
1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend vi. 269 Where every emulous scholar hears..The rustling of another's laurels!
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda III. vi. xlv. 293 The stream of emulous admirers.
Thesaurus »
a. Greedy of praise or power.
b. Envious.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > jealousy or envy > [adjective] > envious
sickOE
envious1340
envyinga1382
emulous1609
invious1622
invidious1668
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 228 He is not emulous as Achilles is. View more context for this quotation
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 206 I am censured by some emulous accusers.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 86 What a Son thou hast, now may All my æmulous neighbours say.
4. Of actions, feelings, etc.: Proceeding from, or of the nature of, emulation or rivalry. †Also, zealous, earnest (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > request > [adjective] > pressing or urgent (of request)
busyc1400
effectual1418
effectuous1489
emulous1535
pressinga1626
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [adjective]
enviousa1300
emulate1604
emulatory1615
emulous1693
competitory1742
emulative1747
rivalrous1812
competitive1829
agonal1896
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 431 Turne all your mad murning In ymulis prayer and [in] grit louing.
1693 G. Smallridge in J. Dryden tr. Plutarch Lives (rev. ed.) IV. 466 This Passion was a kind of æmulous struggle with himself.
1782 V. Knox Ess. (1819) II. cxvi. 288 The profusion of emulous extravagance.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 408 Poets sang with emulous fervour the approach of the golden age.
1871 Rossetti Poems, Sonn. iv. Kiss Till love's emulous ardours ran, Fire within fire, desire in deity.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1398