zealous
/ˈzɛləs/
adjective
Origin
Ancient Greek
zēlos — ardor, jealousy, emulation
Overview
Meaning Now
- Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
- Marked by fervent partisanship for a person, cause, or ideal.
Literal older meaning
full of zeal
Language path
Ancient Greek → Late Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
zealous
Earliest period
late 16th century
Journey
The word originates from the Greek 'zēlos', which could imply both positive 'ardor' and negative 'jealousy'. The English term 'zealous' specifically evolved to emphasize the positive, energetic, or devotion-based aspects of the root.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
zēlos
“ardor or intense desire”
- Late Latin
zelosus
“full of zeal”
- Middle French
zélé
“zealous”
- Early Modern English
zealous
“fervent, devoted”
Connections
Word parts
zeal
root
intense enthusiasm
-ous
suffix
characterized by
Related across languages
French
zélé
zealous
Spanish
celoso
jealous (shares etymological root)
Explore next
Related to zealous
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.