zeal

zeal
zeal [zi:l] n [U]
[Date: 1300-1400; : Late Latin; Origin: zelus, from Greek zelos]
eagerness to do something, especially to achieve a particular religious or political aim
religious/revolutionary/missionary etc zeal
He approached the job with missionary zeal.
in your zeal to do sth
In their zeal to catch drug dealers, police have ignored citizens' basic civil rights.
zeal for
their zeal for privatization

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Zeal — • From delos, a derivative of deo to boil , to throb with heat Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Zeal     Zeal     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • zeal — zeal; zeal·less; zeal·ot·ism; zeal·ot·ry; zeal·ous; zeal·ous·ly; zeal·ous·ness; zeal·ot; un·zeal·ous·ly; …   English syllables

  • Zeal — eal (z[=e]l), n. [F. z[ e]le; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo, celo; from L. zelus, Gr. ?, probably akin to ? to boil. Cf. {Yeast}, {Jealous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person or cause;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Zeal — may refer to: * Zealotry, excessive ideological zeal * Zeal (web), an internet directory * Kingdom of Zeal, a kingdom in the Chrono Trigger video game * ZeAL indie rock band from Toronto, Ontario Canada * USS Zeal , a U.S. Navy minesweeper …   Wikipedia

  • Zeal|ot — «ZEHL uht», noun. a person who shows too much zeal; immoderate partisan; fanatic: »A band of zealots…is pushing his candidacy hard (Wall Street Journal). SYNONYM(S): bigot. ╂[< Latin zēlōtēs < Greek zēlōt < zēloûn be zealous < zêlos… …   Useful english dictionary

  • zeal|ot — «ZEHL uht», noun. a person who shows too much zeal; immoderate partisan; fanatic: »A band of zealots…is pushing his candidacy hard (Wall Street Journal). SYNONYM(S): bigot. ╂[< Latin zēlōtēs < Greek zēlōt < zēloûn be zealous < zêlos… …   Useful english dictionary

  • zeal — [ zil ] noun uncount FORMAL a lot of energy, effort, and enthusiasm: religious/revolutionary zeal In their zeal to industrialize, they got rid of too many farms …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • zeal — (n.) late 14c., from L.L. zelus zeal, emulation (Cf. O.Fr. zel, It. zelo, Sp. celo), a Church word, from Gk. zelos zeal, ardor, jealousy, which is of uncertain origin …   Etymology dictionary

  • zeal — [zēl] n. [ME zele < LL(Ec) zelus, zeal, emulation < Gr zēlos, zeal, ardor < IE base * yā , to be excited, praise > OSlav jaru, furious] intense enthusiasm, as in working for a cause; ardent endeavor or devotion; ardor; fervor SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • zeal|ot|ry — «ZEHL uh tree», noun, plural es. 1. action or feeling characteristic of a zealot; too great zeal; fanaticism. 2. an instance of this …   Useful english dictionary

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