zeal
[zeel]
- fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.
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Origin of zeal
1350–1400; Middle English zele < Late Latin zēlus < Greek zêlos
Synonyms
See more synonyms for zeal on Thesaurus.comintensity, passion.
Antonyms
apathy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for zeals
Historical Examples
Yes, zeal without knowledge, I said—like most other zeals—if there were no objections that struck him at once, there were none.
Clarissa, Volume 4 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
These two zeals are alike in externals, but altogether unlike in internals, 363.
The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial LoveEmanuel Swedenborg
Lacius wishes that Timon would give him and the rest an opportunity of expressing some part of their zeals.
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The TragediesSamuel Johnson
zeal
- fervent or enthusiastic devotion, often extreme or fanatical in nature, as to a religious movement, political cause, ideal, or aspiration
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Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin zēlus, from Greek zēlos
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for zeals
zeal
n.
late 14c., from Late Latin zelus "zeal, emulation" (source of Old French zel, Italian zelo, Spanish celo), a Church word, from Greek zelos "zeal, ardor, jealousy," which is of uncertain origin.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper