zealot
[ zel-uht ]
/ ˈzɛl ət /
noun
a person who shows zeal.
an excessively zealous person; fanatic.
(initial capital letter) a member of a radical, warlike, ardently patriotic group of Jews in Judea, particularly prominent from a.d. 69 to 81, advocating the violent overthrow of Roman rule and vigorously resisting the efforts of the Romans and their supporters to heathenize the Jews.
Origin of zealot
1530–40; earlier zelote < Late Latin zēlōtēs < Greek zēlṓtēs, equivalent to zēlō- (variant stem of zēloûn to be zealous; see zeal) + -tēs agent suffix
SYNONYMS FOR zealot
Related formsun·der·zeal·ot, noun
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for zealot
British Dictionary definitions for zealot (1 of 2)
zealot
/ (ˈzɛlət) /
noun
an immoderate, fanatical, or extremely zealous adherent to a cause, esp a religious one
Word Origin for zealot
C16: from Late Latin zēlōtēs, from Greek, from zēloun to be zealous, from zēlos zeal
British Dictionary definitions for zealot (2 of 2)
Zealot
/ (ˈzɛlət) /
noun
any of the members of an extreme Jewish sect or political party that resisted all aspects of Roman rule in Palestine in the 1st century ad
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Word Origin and History for zealot
zealot
c.1300, "member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine," from Late Latin Zelotes, from Greek zelotes "one who is a zealous follower," from zeloun "to be zealous," from zelos "zeal" (see zeal). Extended sense of "a fanatical enthusiast" first recorded 1630s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper