ardor

especially British, ar·dour

[ahr-der]

noun

1. great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion.

   She spoke persuasively and with ardor.

   Synonyms: intensity, earnestness, spirit, fervency

2. intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal.

   his well-known ardor for Chinese art.

3. burning heat.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ardor¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, equivalent to ārd ( ēre ) to burn + -or -or ¹; replacing Middle English ardure < Old French ardur < Latin, as above; 17th century ardour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Ron Chernow, in his authoritative biography of Hamilton, writes, “theirs was a friendship of unusual ardor,” but regards the lifelong bond between the sisters as evidence against an affair.

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Only the ardor of the Wall Street firms, desperate to buy fire insurance on their burning home, remained undimmed.

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Over a bar piano and later behind closed doors, they bond over an affinity for rural songs thick with hardship, ardor and longing.

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Van Patten and De Domenico plausibly capture that youthful ardor while making it obvious why their displays of affection translate poorly to local police officials unprepared to investigate a murder that quickly drew international scrutiny.

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Despite her creeping cynicism toward politics and its appropriation of movie style, Didion hadn’t lost her ardor for film.

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Related Words

• eagerness 
• earnestness 
• fervor 
• intensity 
• passion 
• warmth 
• zeal