invidiousadj.
/ɪnˈvɪdɪəs/, U.S. /ᵻnˈvɪdiəs/ 1. Of a charge, complaint, report, etc.: Tending or fitted to excite odium, unpopularity, or ill feeling against some one. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > ill will, malevolence > [adjective] > generating ill will
invidious1606
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 58 Asinivs Pollio..made a grievous and invidious complaint in the Senate house, of the fall that Æserninvs his nephew tooke.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 553 He rose, and took th' Advantage of the Times, To load young Turnus with invidious Crimes.
1755 (title) An answer to an invidious pamphlet entituled, A brief state of the Province of Pennsylvania.
1857 W. E. Gladstone in Q. Rev. July 257 The second is drawn from him by the invidious question of the Pharisees.
2.
a. Of an action, duty, topic, etc.: Entailing odium or ill will upon the person performing, discharging, discussing, etc.; giving offence to others.
ΚΠ
1701 N. Rowe Ambitious Step-mother ii. i 'Twere an invidious Task to enter into The Insolence, and other Faults [etc.].
1708 J. Swift Sentiments Church of Eng.-man ii, in Misc. (1711) 147 A great deal hath been already said by other Writers upon this invidious and beaten Subject; therefore I shall let it fall.
1803 J. Mackintosh in Trial J. Peltier 77 The charge which I have to defend is surrounded with the most invidious topics of discussion.
1846 N. Hawthorne Mosses ii. viii. 148 (Earth's Holocaust) It would be invidious if not perilous to betray their awful secrets.
b. Of a comparison or distinction: Offensively discriminating.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > offensively
invidious1709
1709 H. Sacheverell Perils False Brethren 23 Those Inviduous Distinctions that..Distract..Us.
1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. (1876) ix. 88 The laws against the combinations of labourers..were seen to be unjust and invidious.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 105 They are all alike, and he will have no invidious distinctions between them.
3. Of a thing: Fitted to excite ill feeling or envy against the possessor.
ΚΠ
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Glouc. 355 An invidious, and almost incredible summe of One hundred thousand pounds.
1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. ii, in Hist. Wks. (1813) I. 98 Without the invidious name of protector, he succeeded to all the power and influence of which Somerset was deprived.
1770 E. Burke Thoughts Present Discontents 15 His revenue..was ample, without being invidious.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 71 Catharine saw all the peril of such a step, and declined the invidious honor.
4. That looks with an evil eye; envious, grudging, jealous. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > jealousy or envy > [adjective]
invidious1668
jaundiced1711
the mind > emotion > jealousy or envy > [adjective] > envious
sickOE
envious1340
envyinga1382
emulous1609
invious1622
invidious1668
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. ii. ix. 232 Envy, Spite-full, invidious, grudge, repine, malign.
1711 J. Puckle Club 19 He [the Splenetic Detractor] had Ever an invidious eye upon the Clergy, and Men Eminent for virtue.
1738 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) II. 202 Some malignant, invidious god, who looks upon the fortune of men with a jealous eye.
1829 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. 2nd Ser. I. xv. 525 Thou, Plato, who hast cause to be invidious of not many, art of nearly all.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > hatred > object of detestation (person or thing) > [adjective]
loatha700
eileOE
andsetec1000
wlatfulc1230
aloathedc1275
wlatsomea1300
unhonest13..
wlata1325
hideousc1330
abominable1340
hatefula1382
hatesomea1382
abominablec1384
odiousa1387
fulsomec1390
accursedc1400
hatousc1400
rankc1400
hateablec1425
odiblec1425
ugsomec1425
wretchedc1430
loathsomec1440
loathfula1450
noisomea1450
abhominal1477
detestable1477
loathy1481
loathing?a1513
oppugnanta1513
irksome1513
hateworthy1548
abhorful1565
ugged1570
detestine1575
ulcerous1577
opposite1578
scandalous1592
offensive1594
obscene1597
ulcered1602
dirtya1616
abhorrent1628
toady1628
envious1630
repugnant1633
nauseating1645
nauseous1646
obnoxious1646
detestful1654
reluctant1663
horrid1666
abnoxious1682
devilish1692
invidious1710
repellent1776
repellant1780
sickening1789
toadish1822
carrion1826
ugging1839
cussed1853
repugnant1879
jerky1944
vomitous1952
barfy1957
the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > [adjective] > relating to that which is disliked
unliefOE
peevisha1522
unsavoury1536
ingrate1539
unliked1560
ingrateful1567
dislikeful1596
disgracious1597
disaffected1621
disliked1632
disrelished1659
invidious1710
objectional1799
unlikeable1834
dislikable1843
unfavourite1934
the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > [adjective] > relating to that which is disliked > specific persons
unsavoury1401
unlief?a1439
ingrate1539
ill-beloved1546
unliked1560
disgracious1597
ungracious1598
distasteda1661
invidious1710
unlikeable1888
in bad1907
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 233. ⁋2 Joseph, a beloved Child of Israel, became invidious to his elder Brethren.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 102 I must speak what Wisdom would conceal, And Truths invidious to the Great reveal.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1606