ZEAL

readiness, eagerness, zeal, forwardness

(noun) prompt willingness; “readiness to continue discussions”; “they showed no eagerness to spread the gospel”; “they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority”; “he tried to explain his forwardness in battle”

zeal

(noun) excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; “he had an absolute zeal for litigation”

ardor, ardour, elan, zeal

(noun) a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); “they were imbued with a revolutionary ardor”; “he felt a kind of religious zeal”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

zeal (countable and uncountable, plural zeals)

The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.

Synonyms: ardour, eagerness, enthusiasm, intensity, passion

Antonym: apathy

(obsolete) A person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.

Synonym: zealot

The collective noun for a group of zebras.

Synonyms: dazzle, herd

Anagrams

• Elza, laze, zale

Source: Wiktionary

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, v. i.

Definition: To be zealous. [Obs. & R.] Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition