ˈjeləs adjective
Etymology: Middle English jelous, from Old French jalos, jalous, jelous, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin zelosus, from Late Latin zelus zeal + Latin -osus -ous — more at zeal
1.
a. : intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness
shall worship no other god, for the Lord … is a jealous God — Exod 34:14 (Revised Standard Version)
jealous of the slightest interference in household management — Havelock Ellis
b. : disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness (as in love) : apprehensive of the loss of another's devotion
so jealous she wouldn't let him dance with anyone else
c. : hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage (as a possession or attainment) : envious , resentful
jealous because her coat isn't as nice as yours
2. : zealous in guarding (as a possession) : vigilant
his jealous love of privacy and independence — J.W.Beach
: solicitous
students … were like sons to him, he was jealous for their welfare — Ellwood Hendrick
3. : distrustfully watchful : apprehensive of harm or fraud : suspicious
the jealous caution of New England — Van Wyck Brooks
Synonyms: see envious