What does emulous mean?
Emulous describes someone driven by a keen desire to equal or surpass another person's accomplishments. An emulous student studies harder because a sibling topped the class; an emulous athlete trains relentlessly to beat a rival's record. The word almost always takes the preposition 'of', as in 'emulous of her mentor's success.' A secondary sense applies to things rather than people: an emulous work of art is one created in conscious imitation of another's style. Derived from Latin roots meaning rivalry or eager competition, the adjective entered English in the early seventeenth century and appears in writers such as Shakespeare and Milton. Today it is distinctly formal and literary — far less common than its cousin 'emulate,' from which it descends. Its connotation is generally admiring, suggesting wholesome ambition and competitive drive rather than bitter envy. Though rare, it remains a precise and elegant choice when ordinary words like 'competitive' feel too flat.
Eager or ambitious to equal or surpass another; striving to rival someone in achievement.
"Emulous of her sister's Olympic medal, she trained before dawn every day."
Usually followed by 'of' plus the person or achievement being rivaled.
Done or produced in imitation or emulation of another; characterized by imitation.
"The novel is an emulous pastiche of Dickensian prose."
Shakespeare put 'emulous' into the mouths of his characters — but today this word is so rare that meeting one person who uses it correctly is itself an achievement worth emulating.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of emulous
Emulous comes from Latin aemulus, meaning 'rivaling' or 'striving to equal,' derived from aemulari, 'to rival or emulate.' It passed into English via Latin adjectival forms in the early seventeenth century, appearing in the works of writers such as Shakespeare and Milton. Its close relative 'emulate' shares the same Latin root, as does 'emulation'; the root also connects to the notion of rivalry found in related Romance-language descendants.
Related word forms
How emulous is actually used
Formal and literary in register; rare in everyday conversation. The first sense typically takes the preposition 'of'. Connotation is generally positive or neutral, implying admirable ambition rather than petty jealousy.
Easily confused with emulous
Despite a superficial visual resemblance in spelling, immaculate means perfectly clean or flawless and has no connection to the competitive striving that defines emulous.
Envious implies resentful desire for what another has, while emulous carries the more positive sense of ambitious desire to match or surpass another's achievements.