enviable
/ˈɛn.vɪ.ə.b(ə)l/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.87 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Sundrie other Gent[lemen] reſt beholden to this hundred, for their dvvellings, vvho, in an enuiable mediocritie of fortune, do happilie poſſeſſe themſelues, and communicate their ſufficient means to the ſeruice of their prince, the good of their neighbours, and the bettering of their ovvn eſtate: […]"
- "In the course I have taken, I have met, and do daily meet, so many vexations, that I may with truth assure you, that my situation is anything rather than enviable, though it is my happiness to act with those that are far the best that probably ever were engaged in the public service of this country at any time."
- "To superficial observers it might well seem that William [III of England] was, at this time, one of the most enviable of human beings. He was in truth one of the most anxious and unhappy."
- "He [Douglas William Jerrold] had achieved many enviable dramatic successes before this time."
- "This quarter of the city had at that time anything but an enviable reputation. To venture there at night was considered so dangerous that the soldiers from the outlying forts who came in to Paris with permission to go to the theatre, were ordered to halt at the barrière, and not to pass through the perilous district excepting in parties of three or four."
- "As enviable as summer in the Hamptons can be -- stunning weather, beaches, greenery, produce, and yes, people -- autumn is when the east end of Long Island becomes truly magical."
Etymology
Etymology tree Old French enviebor. Middle English envie English envy Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English enviable From envy + -able (suffix meaning ‘able or fit to be done’ forming adjectives).
Word Breakdown
- Root: *weyd-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɛn.vɪ.ə.b(ə)l/
- British English: /ˈɛn.vi.ə.bl̩/
Inflected Forms
more enviable (comparative)
most enviable (superlative)