late 13c., from O.Fr. envie, from L. invidia "envy, jealousy," from invidus "envious," from invidere "envy," earlier "look at (with malice), cast an evil eye upon," from in- "upon" + videre "to see" (see vision). Similar formations in Avestan nipashnaka "envious," also "look at;" O.C.S. zavideti "to envy," from videti "to see;" Lith. pavydeti "to envy," related to veizdeti "to see, to look at."