ˈzēl, esp before pause or consonant -ēəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English zele, from Late Latin zelus, from Greek zēlos zeal, emulation, jealousy; akin to Greek (Doric dialect) zamia loss and perhaps to Old Irish āilid he desires ardently, Russian yaryl furious, Sanskrit yāvan aggressor
1. archaic : ardor of feeling taking the form usually of jealousy or indignation
I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal — Ezek 5:13 (Authorized Version)
2. obsolete : ardent desire especially to do or have something
this doth infer the zeal I had to see him — Shakespeare
3. : impassioned eagerness especially in favor of a person or a cause : active enthusiastic interest mounting to fervor
entered with zeal upon this task — C.S.Sydnor
a fearless tenacity equivalent to religious zeal — Russell Kirk
4. obsolete : zealot
Synonyms: see passion