right or claim. An _envious_ spirit is always
bad; a _jealous_ spirit may be good or bad, according to its object and
tendency. A free people must be _jealous_ of their liberties if they
would retain them. One is _suspicious_ of another from unfavorable
indications or from a knowledge of wrong in his previous conduct, or
even without reason. Compare DOUBT.

Antonyms:

contented, friendly, kindly, satisfied, trustful, well-disposed.

Prepositions:

Envious _of_ (formerly _at_ or _against_) a person; envious _of_ his
wealth or power; envious _of_ him _for_, _because of_, _on account of_
his wealth or power.

* * * * *

EQUIVOCAL.

Synonyms:

ambiguous, enigmatical, indistinct, questionable,
doubtful, indefinite, obscure, suspicious,
dubious, indeterminate, perplexing, uncertain.
enigmatic,

_Equivocal_ (L. _equus_, equal, and _vox_, voice, word) denotes that
which may equally well be understood in either of two or more ways.
_Ambiguous_ (L. _ambi_, around, and _ago_, drive, lead) signifies
lacking in distinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through
indefiniteness of expression. _Ambiguous_ is applied only to spoken or
written statements; _equivocal_ has other applications. A statement is
_ambiguous_ when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate
between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is
_equivocal_ when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is
capable of a different interpretation; an _equivocal_ expression is, as
a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an _ambiguous_ utterance may be
simply the result of a want either of clear thought or of adequate
expression. That which is _enigmatical_ must be guessed like a riddle; a
statement may be purposely made _enigmatical_ in order to provoke
thought and study. That is _doubtful_ which is fairly open to doubt;
that is _dubious_ which has become the subject of doubts so grave as
scarcely to fall short of condemnation; as, a _dubious_ reputation.
_Questionable_ may be used nearly in the sense either of _dubious_ or of
_doubtful_; a _questionable_ statement is one that must be proved before
it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is _questionable_ is a
mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to
prove dishonest. _Equivocal_ is sometimes, tho more rarely, used in this
sense. A _suspicious_ character gives manifest