Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “zeal” come from?

Zeal comes from Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zelus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος meaning rivalry or emulation.

zeal (English): The fervour or tireless devotion for a person,...

Definitions

  1. The fervour or tireless devotion for a person,...

Ancestry of “zeal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishzeleZeal; endless devotion or striving; Intense love...
2Old Frenchzel—
3Late Latinzelusjealousy; zeal, emulation
4Ancient Greekζῆλοςeager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a...
5Ancient GreekζηλόωI emulate; I am jealous
6Ancient Greek-όωAdded to a noun or adjective to make a verb with...
7Proto-Indo-European-oyétiCreates factitive verbs from adjectives
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
10Chichewaiyehe, she

Words derived from “zeal”

  • overzeal
  • zealless
  • zealed
  • zealful
Every word from Chichewa iye →