zeal

From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from ζηλόω (zēlóō, “to emulate, to be jealous”). Related to jealous.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ziːl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːl

zeal (countable and uncountable, plural zeals)

1. The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
   • Dryden

     Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.

   • Bible, Romans x. 2

     I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

2. (obsolete) A zealot.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)

3. The collective noun for a group of zebras.
   • 2012, Alex Kuskowski, Zeal of Zebras: Animal Groups on an African Safari, →ISBN, page 8:

     A zeal of zebras confuses predators. Each zebra has a different set of stripes.

• (fervor): ardor, eagerness, enthusiasm, intensity, passion
• (collective noun for zebras): dazzle, herd

• (fervor): apathy

• jealous
• jealousy

• Elza, laze