zealous

  • 1Zealous — eal ous (?; 277), a. [LL. zelosus. See {Zeal}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Filled with, or characterized by, zeal; warmly engaged, or ardent, in behalf of an object. [1913 Webster] He may be zealous in the salvation of souls. Law. [1913 Webster] 2.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2zealous — I adjective active, ardent, assiduous, attentive, bent upon, dedicated, desirous, devoted, devout, eager, earnest, enthusiastic, fanatical, fervent, fervid, fiery, hearty, impassioned, impetuous, industrious, infatuated, keen, loving, passionate …

    Law dictionary

  • 3zealous — (ad.) 1520s, from M.L. zelosus (source of It. zeloso, Sp. celoso), from zelus (see ZEAL (Cf. zeal)). Related: Zealously, zealousness …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4zealous — [adj] enthusiastic afire, antsy*, ardent, avid, burning, coming on strong*, dedicated, devoted, eager, earnest, fanatic, fanatical, fervent, fervid, fireball*, fired, frenetic, gungho*, hot*, impassioned, itchy*, keen, obsessed, passionate,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 5zealous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having or showing zeal. DERIVATIVES zealously adverb zealousness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6zealous — [zel′əs] adj. [ML zelosus < LL(Ec) zelus: see ZEAL] full of, characterized by, or showing zeal; ardently devoted to a purpose; fervent; enthusiastic zealously adv. zealousness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 7zealous — zeal|ous [ˈzeləs] adj someone who is zealous does or supports something with great energy ▪ a zealous preacher ▪ zealous political activists be zealous in (doing) sth ▪ No one was more zealous than Neil in supporting the proposal. >zealously… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 8zealous — [[t]ze̱ləs[/t]] ADJ GRADED Someone who is zealous spends a lot of time or energy in supporting something that they believe in very strongly, especially a political or religious ideal. She was a zealous worker for charitable bodies... He was a… …

    English dictionary

  • 9zealous — adj. zealous about, in * * * [ zeləs] in zealous about …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10zealous — adjective Date: 1526 filled with or characterized by zeal ; marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal < zealous missionaries > • zealously adverb • zealousness noun …

    New Collegiate Dictionary