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
- The fervour or tireless devotion for a person,...
Ancestry of “zeal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | zele | Zeal; endless devotion or striving; Intense love... |
| 2 | Old French | zel | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | zelus | jealousy; zeal, emulation |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ζῆλος | eager rivalry, zealous imitation, emulation, a... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ζηλόω | I emulate; I am jealous |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -όω | Added to a noun or adjective to make a verb with... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -oyéti | Creates factitive verbs from adjectives |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 10 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |