Etymology Map
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Jealous

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means feeling resentment of another's success

Where does the word "jealous" come from? It comes from Late Latin zelus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
zelus
Late Latin · ancient
"zeal"
from Greek 'zēlos', zeal or rivalry
2
Stage 2 of 3
gelos
Old French · medieval
"jealous, zealous"
split into 'jealous' and 'zealous' in English
3
Stage 3 of 3
jealous
English · 1200s
"zealous; possessive"
the Bible's 'jealous God' kept the older sense
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Read the full story

Jealous’s story begins in Late Latin: zelus meant “zeal.” From Greek 'zēlos', zeal or rivalry. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gelos. Split into 'jealous' and 'zealous' in English. It reached English by 1200s as jealous. The Bible's 'jealous God' kept the older sense. Today, jealous means feeling resentment of another's success.