Category:Zeal

Zeal, n. Etym: [f. zèle; cf. Pg. & it. zelo, sp. zelo, celo; from l. Zelus, gr. Yeast, jealous.]

1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of A person or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; Enthusiasm; fervor. "ambition varnished o'er with zeal." Milton. "zeal, the blind conductor of the will." Dryden. "zeal's never-dying Fire." Keble. I bear them record that they have a zeal of god, but not according to Knowledge. Rom. x. 2. A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert with little Care what shall be established. Johnson.

2. A zealot. [obs.] B. Jonson.

Zeal Zeal, v. i.

Defn: to be zealous. [obs. & r.] Bacon.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Zeal - An earnest temper; may be enlightened (Numbers 25:11; 2 Corinthians 7:11; 2 Corinthians 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Romans 10:2; Philippians 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Galatians 4:18). It is sometimes ascribed to God (2 Kings 19:31; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 37:32; Ezekiel 5:13).