This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.
Macaulay.
En"vy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Envied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Envying.] [F. envier.] 1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.
A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty.
Collier.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
Rambler.
2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
I have seen thee fight,
When I have envied thy behavior.
Shak.
Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes.
Froude.