zeal
[ zeel ]
/ zil /
noun
fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of zeal
1350–1400; Middle English zele<Late Latin zēlus<Greek zêlos
OTHER WORDS FROM zeal
zealless, adjectiveun·der·zeal, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for zeal
British Dictionary definitions for zeal
zeal
/ (ziːl) /
noun
fervent or enthusiastic devotion, often extreme or fanatical in nature, as to a religious movement, political cause, ideal, or aspiration
Word Origin for zeal
C14: from Late Latin zēlus, from Greek zēlos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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