from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Invidious \In*vid"i*ous\, a. [L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy.
See {Envy}, and cf. {Envious}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Envious; malignant. [Obs.] --Evelyn.
[1913 Webster]
2. Worthy of envy; desirable; enviable. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Such a person appeareth in a far more honorable and
invidious state than any prosperous man. --Barrow.
[1913 Webster]
3. Likely to or intended to incur or produce ill will, or to
provoke envy or resentment; hateful; offensive; as,
invidious distinctions.
[1913 Webster]
Agamemnon found it an invidious affair to give the
preference to any one of the Grecian heroes.
--Broome.
-- {In*vid"i*ous*ly}, adv. -- {In*vid"i*ous*ness}, n.
Invigilance