zeal

Where does the word "zeal" come from? It comes from Greek zēlos, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1300s).

Zeal’s story begins in Greek: zēlos meant “ardour.” Ardour, eager rivalry; the Zealots of 1st-century Judea took their name from it. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as zēlus. Used in the Latin Bible for fervour, especially religious. It reached English by 1300s as zeal. Appears in the Wycliffite Bible of the 1380s. Today, zeal means great energy or enthusiasm for a cause.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient zēlos "ardour", ardour, eager rivalry; the Zealots of 1st-century Judea took their name from it.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient zēlus "zeal", used in the Latin Bible for fervour, especially religious.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s zeal "enthusiasm", appears in the Wycliffite Bible of the 1380s.