Zealous
/ˈzɛləs/noun
Having or showing zeal; passionate and fervent in pursuit of a cause or objective.
Did you know?The term 'zeal' originally referred to the intense passion for divine worship, linking it closely to the concept of divine inspiration and even fanaticism.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeḱ-
“to take, to seize, to grasp passionately”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ζῆλος (zēlos)
“intense passion, jealousy, or fervent energy”
Late Latin
Latin
zelōs
“passion, fervor, or enthusiastic devotion”
Old French
Old French
zelos
“jealousy or fervent enthusiasm”
Middle English
Middle English
zelous
“full of zeal, fervent, or passionate in pursuit of something”
Modern English
English
zealous
“marked by a fervent pursuit of a cause, often religious or ideological.”