ardent
- having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent: an ardent vow; ardent love.
- intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous: an ardent theatergoer. an ardent student of French history.
- vehement; fierce: They were frightened by his ardent, burning eyes.
- burning, fiery, or hot: the ardent core of a star.
Origin of ardent
Synonyms
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for ardent
Contemporary Examples
The outré character is sure to throw even the most ardent fans of the Golden Globe winner for a loop.
Michael C. Hall on Going Drag for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ and Exorcising ‘Dexter’Marlow Stern
December 4, 2014
The pathetic dives and writhing on the field is a turn off to the most ardent American fan.
What Hillary Clinton Can Learn From Portugal, Costa Rica, and England in the World CupNathan Daschle
July 1, 2014
No one agreed more than the members of an ardent and motivated fan base within the CIA.
I hear it again in my ears, as I did that day in October 1971, ardent and raspy, unchanged by the passage of time.
As a result, Dugin, one of the ardent supporters and creators of that ideology, is beginning to attract international attention.
Historical Examples
His ardent young eyes worshiped her as he stood on the pavement.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
He trembled before this innocence, so ardent and so ingenuous.
The DreamEmile Zola
The brave and ardent 84th, commanded by Willis, dashes to the front.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
Arthur, who has just finished his studies, is still an ardent sailor.
What Sami Sings with the BirdsJohanna Spyri
Prisoners arrived fast, until we had four hundred in the Ardent.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
ardent
- expressive of or characterized by intense desire or emotion; passionateardent love
- intensely enthusiastic; eageran ardent longing
- glowing, flashing, or shiningardent eyes
- rare burningan ardent fever
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for ardent
adj.
early 14c., of alcoholic distillates, brandy (ardent spirits), etc., from Old French ardant (13c.) "burning, hot; zealous," from Latin ardentem (nominative ardens) "glowing, fiery, hot, ablaze," also used figuratively of passions, present participle of ardere "to burn," from PIE root *as- "to burn, glow" from PIE root *as- "to burn, glow" (cf. Old English æsce "ashes;" see ash (n.1)).
Ardent spirits (late 15c.) so called because they are inflammable, but the term now, if used at all, probably is felt in the figurative sense. The figurative sense (of "burning with" passions, desire, etc.) is from late 14c.; literal sense of "burning, parching" (c.1400) remains rare. Related: Ardently.