Zavidat

Zavidat (Завидать) is a Russian verb meaning "to envy" or "to be envious." It implies a feeling of resentment or displeasure directed towards someone else's possessions, qualities, or successes. It is a somewhat strong emotion, often tinged with a sense of injustice or longing.

Etymology:

The word "zavidat" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*zaviti," which also relates to the concept of seeing or viewing. The connection to envy likely stems from the idea of "seeing" someone else's fortune and feeling resentful because of it.

Grammatical Information:

• Aspect: Imperfective (зави́довать is the imperfective form; позави́довать is the perfective form)
• Conjugation: "Zavidat" conjugates according to standard Russian verb conjugation rules. The verb typically takes the dative case for the person envied (e.g., Я завидую ему́ - I envy him).

Nuances:

While broadly translating to "envy," zavidat can carry slightly different connotations depending on context. It can express simple admiration tinged with longing, or it can denote a more negative, resentful form of jealousy. The intensity of the emotion is often indicated by modifying adverbs or the overall context of the sentence. The perfective form, pozavidat, often implies a brief or specific instance of envy, or the act of envying someone something specific.

Related Terms:

• Zavist' (за́висть): Noun meaning "envy."
• Zavistlivyi (зави́стливый): Adjective meaning "envious."
• Revnovat' (ревновать): A related verb, generally meaning "to be jealous," but more often used in the context of romantic jealousy.

Cultural Significance:

The concept of envy is universal, and zavidat plays a significant role in Russian culture and literature. It frequently appears in proverbs, stories, and everyday conversations, often used as a cautionary tale or to comment on human nature.