zealous
EnglishEdit
Alternative formsEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from ζηλόω (zēlóō, “to emulate, to be jealous”). Doublet of jealous.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
zealous (comparative more zealous, superlative most zealous)
- Full of zeal; ardent, fervent; exhibiting enthusiasm or strong passion.
- 1791, James Boswell, “(please specify the year)”, in The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC:
- Johnson was truly zealous for the success of "The Adventurer;" and very soon after his engaging in it, he wrote the following letter:
- 1896, Andrew Dickson White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, 2004 edition, page 122:
- Doubtless many will exclaim against the Roman Catholic Church for this; but the simple truth is that Protestantism was no less zealous against the new scientific doctrine.
- 1940, Foster Rhea Dulles, America Learns to Play: A history of popular recreation, 1607-1940, page 61:
- […] and there were few more zealous dancers at the fashionable balls in the Raleigh Tavern at Williamsburg.
- 2011 April 4, “Newt Gingrich”, in Time:
- Newt Gingrich […] left Congress in 1998, following GOP midterm-election losses that many blamed on his zealous pursuit of Bill Clinton's impeachment.
SynonymsEdit
- (full of zeal): ardent, eager, enthusiastic, fervent, passionate, zealotic
AntonymsEdit
- (full of zeal): apathetic, dispassionate, indifferent, unenthusiastic
Derived termsEdit
Terms derived from zealous
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
full of zeal; ardent
|