ZEAL - 14 definitions found
zeal n 1: a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); "they were imbued with a revolutionary ardor"; "he felt a kind of religious zeal" [syn: ardor, ardour, elan, zeal] 2: excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; "he had an absolute zeal for litigation" 3: prompt willingness; "readiness to continue discussions"; "they showed no eagerness to spread the gospel"; "they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority"; "he tried to explain his forwardness in battle" [syn: readiness, eagerness, zeal, forwardness] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) zeal noun Etymology: Middle English zele, from Late Latin zelus, from Greek zēlos Date: 14th century eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something ; fervor Synonyms: see passion Oxford English Reference Dictionary
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary zeal Zeal is great enthusiasm, especially in connection with work, religion, or politics. ...his zeal for teaching... Mr Lopez approached his task with a religious zeal. N-UNCOUNT English Explanatory Dictionary zeal zi:l n. 1 earnestness or fervour in advancing a cause or rendering service. 2 hearty and persistent endeavour. [ME zele f. eccl.L zelus f. Gk zelos] English-Old English dictionary zeal ZEAL Zeal and duty are not slow; But on occasion's forelock watchful wait. Paradise Regained, Bk. III. MILTON. For virtue's self may too much zeal be had; The worst of madmen is a saint run mad. Satires of Horace, Sat. I Bk. II. A. POPE. No seared conscience is so fell As that, which has been burned with zeal; For Christian charity's as well A great impediment to zeal, As zeal's a pestilent disease To Christian charity and peace. Miscellaneous Thoughts. S. BUTLER. Easy still it proves, in factious times, With public zeal to cancel private crimes. Absalom and Achitophel. J. DRYDEN. Awake, my soul; stretch every nerve, And press with vigor on: A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown. Zeal and Vigor in the Christian Race. PH. DODDRIDGE. Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations Zeal Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. SHAKESPEARE: Henry VIII., Act iii., Sc. 2. His zeal None seconded, as out of season judg'd, Or singular and rash. MILTON: Par. Lost, Bk. v., Line 849. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Zeal \Zeal\ (z[=e]l), n. [F. z[`e]le; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo, celo; from L. zelus, Gr. ?, probably akin to ? to boil. Cf. Yeast, Jealous.] 1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. ``Ambition varnished o'er with zeal.'' --Milton. ``Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.'' --Dryden. ``Zeal's never-dying fire.'' --Keble. I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. --Rom. x. 2. A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little care what shall be established. --Johnson. 2. A zealot. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Zeal \Zeal\, v. i. To be zealous. [Obs. & R.] --Bacon. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Zeal an earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor. 7:11; 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Rom. 10:2; Phil. 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18). It is sometimes ascribed to God (2 Kings 19:31; Isa. 9:7; 37:32; Ezek. 5:13). Soule\'s Dictionary of English Synonyms zeal n. Ardor, eagerness, engagedness, fervor, fervency, warmth, glow, feeling, energy, earnestness, devotedness, devotion, intentness, intensity, heartiness, cordiality, enthusiasm, passion, soul, spirit. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 180 Moby Thesaurus words for "zeal": abandon, acquiescence, agitation, agreeability, agreeableness, alacrity, all-overs, amenability, angst, anxiety, anxiety hysteria, anxiety neurosis, anxious bench, anxious concern, anxious seat, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, ardency, ardor, avidity, bibliolatry, bluster, brawl, broil, brouhaha, cacophony, calenture, cankerworm of care, care, chaos, charismatic gift, charismatic movement, charismatic renewal, cheerful consent, commitment, committedness, commotion, compliance, concern, concernment, consent, cooperativeness, dedication, devotedness, devotion, devoutness, disquiet, disquietude, distress, disturbance, docility, dread, eagerness, earnestness, ebullition, ecstasy, embroilment, energy, enthusiasm, excitement, faith, faithfulness, fanaticism, favorable disposition, favorableness, fear, ferment, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fidelity, fierceness, fire, flap, fomentation, foofaraw, foreboding, forebodingness, forwardness, frenzy, fume, furor, furore, fury, fuss, gameness, gift of tongues, glossolalia, goodwill, gusto, heart, heartiness, heat, heatedness, hubbub, hurrah, impassionedness, inquietude, intensity, intentness, keenness, liveliness, loyalty, malaise, misgiving, nervous strain, nervous tension, nervousness, overanxiety, overdevoutness, overpiousness, overreligiousness, overrighteousness, overzealousness, pandemonium, passion, passionateness, pentecostalism, perturbation, pins and needles, pliability, pliancy, promptness, pucker, racket, rage, readiness, receptive mood, receptiveness, receptivity, relish, resolution, responsiveness, revival, revivalism, right mood, row, ruckus, rumpus, sanctimony, savor, seriousness, sincerity, solicitude, soul, spirit, stew, storminess, strain, suspense, tempestuousness, tension, tractability, trouble, tumult, tumultuousness, turbulence, turmoil, uneasiness, ungrudgingness, unloathness, unquietness, unreluctance, uproar, upset, urgency, vehemence, verve, vexation, warmth, warmth of feeling, wildness, willing ear, willing heart, willingness, zealotism, zealotry, zealousness, zest |
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