zeal
pronunciation
How to pronounce zeal in British English:
UK [ziːl]
How to pronounce zeal in American English:
US [ziːl]
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- Noun:
- a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
- excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end
Word Origin
- zeal
- zeal: [14] Zeal is closely related to jealousy. It comes via late Latin zēlus from Greek zélos ‘fervour, jealousy’. The medieval Latin derivative zēlōsus has left English a double legacy: zealous [16] and (via Old French) jealous.=> jealous
- zeal (n.)
- "passionate ardor in pursuit of an objective or course of action," late 14c., from Old French zel (Modern French zèle) and directly from Late Latin zelus "zeal, emulation" (source also of Italian zelo, Spanish celo), a Church word, from Greek zelos "ardor, eager rivalry, emulation," "a noble passion" [Liddell & Scott], but also "jealousy;" prom PIE *ya- "to seek, request, desire." From mid-15c. as "devotion."
Antonym
Example
- 1. The government has liberalised and simplified with great zeal .
- 2. Appearances matter in japan and the carmaker 's zeal is being matched by others .
- 3. But excess zeal can prove awfully costly too .
- 4. Brownouts this summer might weaken people 's anti-nuclear zeal .
- 5. China 's new house churches have the zeal of converts : many members bring their families and co-workers .