Dictionary
zealous
adjective zeal·ous \ˈze-ləs\
: feeling or showing strong and energetic support for a person, cause, etc. : filled with zeal
Full Definition of ZEALOUS
: marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal : filled with or characterized by zeal <zealous missionaries>
— zeal·ous·ly adverb
— zeal·ous·ness noun
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Examples of ZEALOUS
- I was zealous in my demands on my sisters for promptness in rehearsals. I was passionate, intolerant of small talk, hungry for knowledge, grabby, bossy, precocious. —Lynn Margulis, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005
- Sir Thomas was zealous in the pursuit of recusants, not poachers, and was otherwise an amiable man. —S. Schoenbaum, Shakespeare's Lives, 1991
- Zealous in his ministerial labours, blameless in his life and habits, he yet did not appear to enjoy that mental serenity, that inward content, which should be the reward of every sincere Christian and practical philanthropist. —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
- He had no cause for self-reproach on the score of neglect, or want of thought, for he had been devoted to her service; and yet a hundred little occasions rose up before him, on which he fancied he might have been more zealous, and more earnest, and wished he had been. —Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, 1838
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First Known Use of ZEALOUS
1526
ZEALOUS Defined for Kids
zealous
adjective zeal·ous \ˈze-ləs\
Definition of ZEALOUS for Kids
1
: filled with or showing a strong and energetic desire to get something done or see something succeed <The police were zealous in their pursuit of the criminals.>
2
: marked by passionate support for a person, cause, or ideal <a zealous fan>
— zeal·ous·ly adverb
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