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Where does the word "jealous" come from? It comes from Late Latin zelus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "jealous" come from? It comes from Late Latin zelus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Jealous’s story begins in Late Latin: zelus meant “zeal.” From Greek 'zēlos', zeal or rivalry. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gelos. Split into 'jealous' and 'zealous' in English. It reached English by 1200s as jealous. The Bible's 'jealous God' kept the older sense. Today, jealous means feeling resentment of another's success.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient zelus "zeal", from Greek 'zēlos', zeal or rivalry.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gelos "jealous, zealous", split into 'jealous' and 'zealous' in English.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s jealous "zealous; possessive", the Bible's 'jealous God' kept the older sense.