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 for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words
willinglycordiallyvigorouslysincerelypromptlyintentlyzealouslyheartilygladlyearnestlyenergeticallyreadilybreathlesslyactivelyhungrilyimpatientlyenthusiasticallyardentlyferventlylonginglyExamples from the Web for ardently
Contemporary Examples
This is an inverse Pietà, and something of a sexual anarchist; she ardently refuses to be oriented in an orientation.
Even as Hispanics favored Democrats this week, some Republicans wooed them ardently and made surprising inroads.
The country he had so ardently defended and the city of Benghazi, which he had helped to save and he so loved, proved his undoing.
White evangelicals are slightly more skeptical, but the poll found that it made no difference in how ardently they support Romney.
Where you dabbled in so-called spiritual disciplines, you now ardently devote.
Historical Examples
But that Hope loved him ardently there was no doubt, however it might be explained.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
He thought that it was very strange that he should think so ardently of kissing Maggie.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
It is ardently hoped that events may justify their confidence.
Would to God I as firmly believed it, as I ardently wish it!
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
Appear to her in the form of him to whom she is most ardently attached.
ImogenWilliam Godwin
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 ardently
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.