Zeal
/ziːl/noun
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
Did you know?In ancient times, zeal was often associated with divine fervor, seen as a burning passion bestowed by the gods to accomplish great deeds.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʲel-
“to boil, to be warm”
Latin
Latin
zelus
“zeal, enthusiasm, jealousy”
Old French
Old French
zel
“zeal, fervor”
Middle English
Middle English
zel
“zeal, enthusiasm, fervor”
Modern English
English
zeal
“intense passion or enthusiasm, especially for a cause”