1. [n]  spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins)
2. [n]  a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something possessed by another
3. [v]  be envious of; set one's heart on
4. [v]  feel envious towards; admire enviously

Envy
A writer targets a high-powered publishing executive for a subtle and sinister game of revenge, and things get complicated when the executive`s wife falls for the writer.

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1. \En"vy\, n.; pl. {Envies}. [F. envie, L. invidia envious;
   akin to invidere to look askance at, to look with enmity; in
   against + videre to see. See {Vision}.]
   1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.]
            If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to
            the people.                           --Shak.
   2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the
      sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied
      with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal
      advantages; malicious grudging; -- usually followed by of;
      as, they did this in envy of C[ae]sar.
            Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of
            another, or anger and displeasure at any good of
            another which we want, or any advantage another hath
            above us.                             --Ray.
            No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more.
                                                  --Milton.
            Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is
            emulation in the learned or brave.    --Pope.
   3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.]
            Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous
            envy.                                 --Ford.
   4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.]
            To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. --B. Jonson.
   5. An object of envious notice or feeling.
            This constitution in former days used to be the envy
            of the world.                         --Macaulay.
   

2. \En"vy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Envied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Envying}.] [F. envier.]
   1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a
      feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any
      one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or
      good fortune and a longing to possess it.
            A woman does not envy a man for his fighting
            courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty.
                                                  --Collier.
            Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
                                                  --Rambler.
   2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or
      repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or
      good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.);
      to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
            I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy
            behavior.                             --Shak.
            Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their
            cool mountain breezes.                --Froude.
   3. To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
            Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share. --T.
                                                  Gray.
   4. To do harm to; to injure; to disparage. [Obs.]
            If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best
            mistress, Put me against a wall.      --J. Fletcher.
   5. To hate. [Obs.] --Marlowe.
   6. To emulate. [Obs.] --Spenser.
   

3. \En"vy\, v. i.
   1. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything
      with grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with
      at.
            Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked?
                                                  --Jer. Taylor.
   2. To show malice or ill will; to rail. [Obs.] ``He has . . .
      envied against the people.'' --Shak.