Zeal (zēl), n. [F.
zèle; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp. zelo,
celo; from L. zelus, Gr. ?, probably akin to ? to
boil. Cf. 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. To be zealous.
[Obs. & R.] Bacon.