Meaning of Zeal: Zeal refers to great enthusiasm or eagerness, especially in pursuing a cause, an ideal, or a goal. It implies a fervent and passionate interest in something.
Etymology and Origin: The word “zeal” comes from the Late Latin “zelus,” which is directly borrowed from the Greek word “ζῆλος” (zēlos). In Greek, “zēlos” can mean zeal, ardor, or jealous emulation. The term conveys a sense of intense enthusiasm or fervent devotion to something, whether it be a cause, a discipline, or an activity.
In ancient Greek culture, “zēlos” often had connotations of both positive emulation and negative envy or jealousy. This dual aspect of zeal is reflected in the related term “zealot,” which originally referred to a member of a fervent Jewish sect during the first century who showed zealous commitment to the law and to Jewish independence from Rome.
When the term “zeal” entered English usage around the 14th century, it predominantly carried the positive connotation of passionate ardor or enthusiastic diligence, a meaning it still holds today. The aspect of envy, more prominent in its Greek origin, has become less associated with the word in its modern English usage.
