noun
or ar·dour ˈärdər, ˈȧdə(r)
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ardour, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ardour, from Latin ardor, from ardēre to burn; akin to Old High German essa forge, Old Norse arinn hearth, Latin arēre to be dry, aridus dry, Greek azein to parch, Sanskrit āsa ashes, dust
1.
a. : warmth or heat of emotion, feeling, or sentiment
enough ardor in his tone to melt a heart of ice — Joseph Conrad
: spirit
impressed the House as much by candor as by ardor — S.E.Morison
: passion
gave him love potions and herb teas to increase his ardor — Willa Cather
b. : extreme vigor, force, or energy : intensity
its ardor was the greater for being so long delayed — V.L.Parrington
c.
(1) : intense enthusiasm or eagerness : fervor , zeal
his ardor cooled off in the course of the war — Edmund Wilson
desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation — Mary W. Shelley
(2) : deep-seated devotion : fidelity , loyalty
loving this country with that extra ardor of the immigrant — John Mason Brown
2. : strong or burning heat : fire , flame
the ardor of the noonday sun
3. : an instance or an expression of an ardent emotion
the stress of unbridled ardors — H.M.Parshley
Synonyms: see passion