zeal
/ziːl
/noun [mass noun]
Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective: his zeal for privatization Laura brought a missionary zeal to her work...
- I do commend the officers involved upon their zeal and energy.
- One glance at those staring eyes was enough to confirm that this was a man burning with missionary zeal.
- At the age of 21, full of zeal and love, Richard was accepted as a junior agent in the Irish Church Missions.
Synonyms
passion, zealousness, committedness, ardour, love, fervour, fire, avidity, fondness, devotion, devotedness, enthusiasm, eagerness, keenness, appetite, taste, relish, gusto;
vigour, energy, verve, zest
rare fervency, ardency
Origin
Late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek zēlos.
jealous from Middle English:
This comes via Old French gelos and medieval Latin zelosus from Greek zelos, also the source of zeal (Late Middle English).