▪ I. zeal, n.
(ziːl)
Forms: 4–7 zele, 5 zel, 5–6 zeel(e, 5–7 zeale, 6 zealle, Sc. zeil(e, zeill, (syil), 4– zeal.
[Late ME. zele, ad. L. zēlus, a. Gr. ζῆλος. Cf. OF. zel (F. zèle), It., Pg. zelo, Sp. celo.]
1. In biblical language, rendering L. zelus (or æmulatio), Gr. ζῆλος, denoting ardent feeling or fervour (taking the form of love, wrath, ‘jealousy’, or righteous indignation), with contextual tendency to unfavourable implications (emulation, rivalry, partisanship).
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Kings xix. 31 The zeel [1388 feruent loue, Coverdale gelousy] of the Lord of hoostis schal done that. ― Ezek. viii. 3 The north, where the idol of zele [gloss or enuye], was set. 1526 Tindale Gal. v. 20 The dedes of the flesshe..hatred, lawynge, zele [1611 emulations, 1881 (R.V.) jealousies]. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xlviii. 2 He brought an honger vpon them and in his zele he made them few in nombre. 1575 tr. Luther's Comm. Gal. iii. 88 These kindes of anger are good, and are called in the scripture ielousies or zeales. 1604 T. Wright Passions ii. iii. 63 Zeale (that is, envie, emulation or indignation) and anger shorten thy dayes. 1611 Bible Ezek. v. 13 They shal know that I the Lord haue spoken it in my zeale, when I haue accomplished my fury in them. |
† 2. In a specialized sense: Ardent love or affection; fervent devotion or attachment (to a person or thing).
Obs. or merged in sense 4.
| c 1400 Rule St. Benet (prose) lxxii. 139 As there is an euyll zele, loue, or affeccyon the whiche departyth one from god..soo there is a zele or affeccion..the whiche departyth one from synne. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 3168 With zel of feith I brenne as doth þe glede, Of alle harmys to bidden ȝow be war. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xiii. 71 Bi cause noon of hem..wole so allegge aȝens me for eny zele or credence which he him silf hath to what he schal so allegge. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione ii. iii. 43 Haue þerfore first zeel to þiself, & þan maist þou haue zeel to þi neiȝbore [Habe primo zelum super te ipsum, et tunc juste zelare poteris etiam proximum tuum]. 1485 Cov. Leet Bk. 524 The loue and zele that ye owe..to the wele..of our said Citie. 1513 More Rich. III (1883) 36 Hath the protectour so tender zele to him that he fereth nothing but lest he should escape hym? 1559 Mirr. Mag., Salisbury xxviii, For though no cause be found, so nature frames, Men haue a zeale to such as beare their names. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey (1893) 51 The Cardynall espieng the great zeale that the kyng had conceyved in this gentilwoman. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xxxv. 113 Demetryus..spared his life not for any zeale hee had toward him. 1685 in Verney Mem. (1907) II. 403, I thought I had ground for those hopes, which..the zeal of my soul formed into wishes for her recovery. |
† 3. Ardent, earnest, or eager desire; longing. Also
const. inf. or clause.
Obs. or merged in 4.
| c 1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert 65 Gilberd..had..so grete zel to lede soules to heuene. c 1450 Brut ii. 522 Wherfore he might nat performe his zele & desire þat he had conceyved Agenst þe Turke. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. iv. (1883) 54 Thus shold the knightes haue grete zele that the lawe be kept. 1547 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) II. App. K. 39 Upon the confydence of whych your accomplyschment to my expectation, zele, and request. 1581 A. Hall Iliad ii. 21 Y⊇ rout with zeale of news now goes. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, v. v. 14 This doth inferre the zeale I had to see him. 1658 Sir H. Slingsby Father's Leg. in Diary (1836) 211 My tender zeal..of your future welfare. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 300 Such Rage of Honey in their Bosom beats And such a Zeal they have for flow'ry Sweets. |
4. (
a) Intense ardour in the pursuit of some end; passionate eagerness in favour of a person or cause; enthusiasm as displayed in action. Const.
for;
† formerly
to,
occas. of.
| [c 1520 Nisbet N.T. Eph. iv. 26 marg., This angre and wraith was bot a weray zeill vnto the law of God. 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxviii[i]. 9 The zele of thine house hath euen eaten me.] ? 1545 Brinklow Compl. xxv. (1874) 74 Let all thinges be done of zeale only for Gods truthes sake. 1555 Eden Decades (Arb.) 50 By whose..godly zeale this myghtie portion of the worlde hath byn added to the flocke of Chrystes congregation. 1593 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 175 Inordinate Zeale is a pernitious Reformer. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. iii. i, In pure zeale, I doe not like the man: He is a heathen. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶1 Zeale to promote the common good. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 197 They deride our worship, and zeale, as Michall did Davids. 1681 Tate Lear Ep. Ded., My Zeal for all the Remains of Shakespear. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 19 Aug. 1641, Popular reformers, whose zeale had foolishly transported them in other places rather to act like mad-men than religious. 1727–46 Thomson Summer 1615 That first paternal virtue, Public Zeal. 1816 Byron Siege Cor. iv, With all the zeal Which young and fiery converts feel. 1835 Thirlwall Greece vi. I. 209 A mean between this irreverent criticism, and the excessive zeal of those who regarded Homer as a master of all arts and sciences. 1860 E. B. Ramsay Remin. v. (ed. 6) 183 He joined with his drinking propensities a great zeal for the Episcopal Church. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §6. 400 The decay of Catholicism appealed strongly to the new spirit of Catholic zeal. |
† (
b) In obsolete constructions.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 122 b, Many hath a good zele to perfeccyon, whiche for lacke of this lyght..knoweth not what is to be done. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) II. 535 His gude Lyfe and Maneris, and Zeill of Justice. 1561 Winȝet Bk. Questions To Rdr., Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 53 Blindit be feruent zele towart the Mosaical law. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. ii. 27 Vnder the counterfeited Zeale of Heauen. 1723 Pres. St. Russia II. 86 A Zeal of converting the neighboring Nations. |
† (
c) In plural.
Obs.| c 1533 Latimer in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 1309/2 Such ar zeles without knowlege, and iudgement. 1625 Bacon Ess., Viciss. Things (Arb.) 570, I doe not finde, that those Zeales, doe any great Effects. 1654 Z. Coke Logick Pref., Whereof (my Lords)..we..by your unwearied Zeals may..obtain the full..Fruition. |
† 5. In weakened sense, with qualifying
adj.: Intent, purpose, will, disposition (chiefly
good zeal).
Obs. (chiefly
Sc.).
| 1513 Douglas æneis iii. Prol. 29 Gentill curtas redaris of guide zeill. a 1533 Frith Answ. More (1548) A 3 b, Master More which of late hath busyed him selfe to medle in al such matters (of what zele I will not defyne). 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. vi. v. (1821) I. 207 Thus grew he, ilk day, more terribill and odius to his pepill, and governit the realme with na better zeil than he gat it. 1537 St. Papers Hen. VIII, VII. 707 The many discomoditeis,..the wiche be like were unknowen to hym or them that have preffarrid the same, who myght of a good syil doo it. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 14 Men of guid zeall and conscience. |
† 6. transf. (from 4). A zealous person, zealot.
| 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair i. iii, As errant a Zeale as he. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §3 There are..both in Greek, Roman, and African Churches, solemnities,..whereof the wiser zeales doe make a Christian use. 1647 Jer. Taylor Lib. Proph. Ep. Ded. 9 Although some Zeales are so hot, and their eyes so inflamed with their ardors. |
7. attrib. and
Comb.| a 1613 Overbury A Wife, etc. (1638) 140 The hooke and crooke of his *Zeale-blind Shepheard. |
| 1628 Leighton App. Parlt. ix. 202 The fyrie *zeal-consuming love of Gods howse. |
| 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xii. ccii, The Stranger's *zeal-inflamed Eye. 1736 Thomson Liberty iv. 919 The worst the zeal-inflam'd Barbarian drew. |
| 1774 J. Adams in Fam. Lett. (1876) 23 This zeal will prove fatal to the fortune and felicity of my family... Colonel Otis's phrase is, ‘The *zeal-pot boils over’. |
| 1671 H. Foulis Hist. Romish Treasons (1681) 110 *Zeal-pretending gravity. |
| 1727 P. Walker in Biogr. Presbyt. (1827) I. 304 The Christ-dethroning, Church-ruining,..*Zeal-quenching Indulgence. |
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. ii. Imposture 35 The profane *zeal-scoffing Atheist. |
| a 1644 Quarles Sol. Recant. solil. v. 37 O but my *zeal-transported soul, take heed. |
| 1797 Bentham in Betham-Edwards Autob. A. Young (1898) 309 Knowing..your zeal for all *zeal-worthy objects. |
Hence
ˈzealful a., full of zeal, zealous;
† ˈzealist, a zealot;
ˈzealless a., wanting in zeal (whence
ˈzeallessness).
| 1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. Ded. 1 My dutifull thankfull and *zealefull affection toward your graces person. 1605 Sylvester Tri. Faith iv, Meek Moses with a zeal-full ire. |
| 1614 C. Brooke Ghost Rich. III, lxxiv. Poems (1872) 107 Proue not a *Zelist in fond purity, Nor paint a heauen, nor counterfeit a hell. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 27 The Meccan zealists have here a few poore built Mosques. |
| 1613 Spelman De non Temer. Eccl. (1646) 30 O thou *zealeless mortality. 1643 Hammond Serm., John xviii. 40 Wks. 1684 IV. 514 That heartless zealless behaviour in this very house of God. 1868 Pusey Our Pharis. 15 A zealless, loveless, lifeless worship of God. |
| 1667 Waterhouse Narr. Fire Lond. 65 Levity and *Zealesness for Reformed Religion. |
▪ II. † zeal, v. Obs. Also
zele.
[ad. late L. zēlāre, ad. Gr. ζηλοῦν, f. ζῆλος zeal n.] 1. trans. To be zealous for; to pursue with zeal or passionate ardour.
| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. i. 69 A notable exaumple of sapience with whole herte & mynde, feruently desired and zeled. 1609 Bible (Douay) Wisd. i. 12 Zeale not death in the errour of your life. 1623 Naunton in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 193 Blesse and prosper it to both yourselves and to all that truely zeale your truest prosperities. |
2. To inspire with zeal.
| 1549 Cheke Hurt Sedit. (1569) L iij b, Men zealed towarde God, but not fit to iudge. 1642 Featly Vertumnus 85 They will..stirre up an earnestnesse in them in religion, as zealing their owne being opposed by falshood. |
3. intr. To act with zeal, show zeal, be zealous.
| 1459 [see zealing below]. a 1626 Bacon Disc. conc. Ch. Aff. (1641) 19 Stiffe fellowes, and such as zeale marvellously for those whom they have chosen to bee their masters. |
Hence
† zealed ppl. a., full of zeal, zealous (see also over-zealed);
† ˈzealing ppl. a.| 1459 Rolls of Parlt. V. 348/2 Subtily coloured, and feyned zelyng Justice. 1600 W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 68 A faire seeming..fountaine of zealing christall streames. ? 1635 Fletcher, etc. Love's Pilgr. iv. i, You might have done, but for that zeald religion You women bear to swownings. |