Dictionary / zeal
zeal
- noun
- from Old French
The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “zeal” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun · etymology 1
- countableuncountableThe fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.
- collectivecountableuncountableA group of zebras.
A zeal of zebras confuses predators. Each zebra has a different set of stripes.2012, Alex Kuskowski, Zeal of Zebras: Animal Groups on an African Safari, →ISBN, page 8:
Older & obsolete senses (1)
- countableobsoleteuncountableA person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.
noun · etymology 2
- uncommonuncountableA light zomp.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (3)
- nouna feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause) — also: ardor, ardour, elan
- nounexcessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end
- nounprompt willingness — also: readiness, eagerness, forwardness
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
Etymology 1 (noun)
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)zeal
- Middle Englishzele
- Old Frenchzel
- Late Latinzēlus
- Ancient Greekζῆλος (zêlos) “zeal, jealousy”
- Proto-Indo-European*yeh₂- “to search”
From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (“to search”). Related to jealous.
Etymology 2 (noun)
The source has no etymology for this sense yet.
Derivatives — words built from “zeal”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “zeal” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “zeal” came from before it was English.
Etymology 1 (noun)
Etymology 2 (noun)
The source does not trace this sense to an earlier language.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
zeal n. [F. z; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo, celo; from L. zelus, Gr. Yeast, Jealous.]
- Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor.
- A zealot.
zeal v. i.
- To be zealous.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.
I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 10:2:
nounMeaning: A group of zebras.
A zeal of zebras confuses predators. Each zebra has a different set of stripes.2012, Alex Kuskowski, Zeal of Zebras: Animal Groups on an African Safari, →ISBN, page 8:
Zebras can also be called a herd or a zeal.2019 June 6, “A gaggle, a confusion and a conspiracy - bizarre animal collective group names”, in BBC, archived from the original on 01 Apr 2021:
nounMeaning: a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
he felt a kind of religious zeal
nounMeaning: excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end
he had an absolute zeal for litigation
nounMeaning: prompt willingness
they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
zeal
/ziːl/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
zeal
/ziːl/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “zeal” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “zeal” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂-. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — zeal
Origin: A. Old French (Old French zel)
Journey: English zeal ← Middle English zele ← Old French zel ← Late Latin zēlus ← Ancient Greek ζῆλος ← Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂-
Some derivatives: overzeal, underzeal, zealed, zealful, zealless
Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- — “to search”
Etymology: From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (“to search”). Related to jealous.
Sources: Wiktionary “zeal” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/zeal#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/zeal