Where does “jealous” come from?
Jealous comes from Middle English gelus, from Old French gelus, derived from Latin -osus (a suffix forming adjectives) combined with Latin -osus, ultimately from Ancient Greek ζῆλος meaning zeal or rivalry.
jealous (English): Suspecting rivalry in love; troubled by worries...
Definitions
- Suspecting rivalry in love; troubled by worries...
Ancestry of “jealous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | jelous | Jealous about a relationship; fearful about one's... |
| 2 | Old French | jalous | eager; zealous; jealous |
| 3 | Latin | zēlōsus | — |
| 4 | Latin | zēlus | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Ζῆλος | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | yeh₂- | to go; to go in, enter; to ride, to travel |
Words derived from “jealous”