Jealous \jeal"ous\, adj. [OE. jalous, gelus, OF. jalous, F jaloux, LL. zelosus zealous, fr. zelus emulation, zeal, jealousy, Gr. zh^los. See zeal, and cf. zealous.]

1. Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages; "he was never covetous before he met her"; "jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions"; "envious of their art collection" [syn: covetous, envious]
2. Suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival; "a jealous lover" [syn: green-eyed, overjealous]
3. Zealous; solicitous; vigilant; anxiously watchful

   I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts --Kings xix 10

   How nicely jealous is every one of us of his own repute! --Dr. H. More

4. Apprehensive; anxious; suspiciously watchful

   This doing wrong creates such doubts as these, Renders us jealous and disturbs our peace. --Waller

   The people are so jealous of the clergy's ambition --Swift

5. Exacting exclusive devotion; intolerant of rivalry

   Thou shalt worship no other God; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. --Ex. xxxiv 14

6. Disposed to suspect rivalry in matters of interest and affection; apprehensive regarding the motives of possible rivals, or the fidelity of friends; distrustful; having morbid fear of rivalry in love or preference given to another; painfully suspicious of the faithfulness of husband, wife, or lover

   If the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife. --Num. v. 14

   To both these sisters have I sworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the stung Are of the adder --Shak

   It is one of the best bonds, both of chastity and obedience, in the wife, if she think her husband wise; which she will never do if she find him jealous. --Bacon

   Jealousy is a painful apprehension of rivalship in cases that are peculiarly interesting to us. --Cogan

   [syn: suspicious; anxious; envious