Word a Day
zeal
What does zeal mean?
zeal (noun): the fervor or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use zeal in a sentence?
- He did it with great zeal. (Tatoeba sentence #292149 by CM, CC BY 2.0 FR)
How do you pronounce zeal?
/zil/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does zeal come from?
From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (“to search”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Words related to zeal
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “zeal”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “zeal” mean?
a particular pronunciation or custom that is regarded as distinguishing members of a group from non-members, especially when used as a test
Not quite: that's what shibboleth means.
the fervor or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest
Right! That's what “zeal” means.
someone who doubts beliefs, claims, plans, etc. that are accepted by others as true or appropriate, especially one who habitually does so
Not quite: that's what skeptic means.
temporary cessation from activity to rest and recover, especially in the form of sleep; rest; an instance of this; a break, a rest; a sleep
Not quite: that's what repose means.
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