Forms: 4–7 zele, 5 zel, 5–6 zeele, 5–7 zeale, 6 zealle, Sc. zeil(e, zeill, (syil), 4– zeal. [Late ME. zele, ad. L. zēlus, a. Gr. ζῆλος. Cf. OF. zel (F. zèle), It., Pg. zelo, Sp. celo.]
1. In biblical language, rendering L. zelus (or æmulatio), Gr. ζῆλος, denoting ardent feeling or fervor (taking the form of love, wrath, ‘jealousy,’ or righteous indignation), with contextual tendency to unfavorable implications (emulation, rivalry, partisanship).
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings xix. 31. The zeel [1388 feruent loue, Coverdale gelousy] of the Lord of hoostis schal done that. Ibid., Ezek. viii. 3. The north, where the idol of zele [gloss or enuye], was set.
1526. Tindale, Gal. v. 20. The dedes of the flesshe … hatred, lawynge, zele [1611 emulations, 1881 (R.V.) jealousies].
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xlviii. 2. He brought an honger vpon them and in his zele he made them few in nombre.
1575. trans. Luther’s Comm. Gal., iii. 88. These kindes of anger are good, and are called in the scripture ielousies or zeales.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, II. iii. 63. Zeale (that is, envie, emulation or indignation) and anger shorten thy dayes.
1611. Bible, Ezek. v. 13. They shal know that I the Lord haue spoken it in my zeale, when I haue accomplished my fury in them.
† 2. In a specialized sense: Ardent love or affection; fervent devotion or attachment (to a person or thing). Obs. or merged in sense 4.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (prose), lxxii. 139. As there is an euyl. zele, loue, or affeccyon the whiche departyth one from god … soo there is a zele or affeccion … the whiche departyth one from synne.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 3168. With zel of feith I brenne as doth þe glede, Of alle harmys to bidden ȝow be war.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiii. 71. Bi cause noon of hem … wole so allegge aȝens me for eny zele or credence which he him silf hath to what he schal so allegge.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. iii. 43. Haue þerfore first zeel to þiself, & þan maist þou haue zeel to þi neiȝbore [Habe primo zelum super te ipsum, et tunc juste zelare poteris etiam proximum tuum].
1485. Cov. Leet Bk., 524. The loue and zele that ye owe … to the wele … of our said Citie.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1883), 36. Hath the protectour so tender zele to him that he fereth nothing but lest he should escape hym?
1559. Mirr. Mag., Salisbury, xxviii. For though no cause be found, so nature frames, Men haue a zeale to such as beare their names.
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 51. The Cardynall espieng the great zeale that the kyng had conceyved in this gentilwoman.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Iustine, xxxv. 113. Demetryus … spared his life not for any zeale hee had toward him.
1685. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 403. I thought I had ground for those hopes, which … the zeal of my soul formed into wishes for her recovery.
† 3. Ardent, earnest, or eager desire; longing. Also const. inf. or clause. Obs. or merged in 4.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Gilbert, 65. Gilberd … had … so grete zel to lede soules to heuene.
c. 1450. Brut, II. 522. Wherfore he might nat performe his zele & desire þat he had conceyved Agenst þe Turke.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 54. Thus shold the knightes haue grete zele that the lawe be kept.
1547. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), II. App. K. 39. Upon the confydence of whych your accomplyschment to my expectation, zele, and request.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, II. 21. Ye rout with zeale of news now goes.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. v. 14. This doth inferre the zeale I had to see him.
1658. Slingsby, Father’s Leg., in Diary (1836), 211. My tender zeal … of your future welfare.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 300. Such Rage of Honey in their Bosom beats And such a Zeal they have for flow’ry Sweets.
4. Intense ardor in the pursuit of some end; passionate eagerness in favor of a person or cause; enthusiasm as displayed in action. Const. for; † formerly to, occas. of.
[c. 1520. Nisbet, N. T., Eph. iv. 26, marg. This angre and wraith was bot a weray zeill vnto the law of God.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxviii[i]. 9. The zele of thine house hath euen eaten me.]
1545[?]. Brinklow, Compl., xxv. (1874), 74. Let all thinges be done of zeale only for Gods truthes sake.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 50. By whose … godly zeale this myghtie portion of the worlde hath byn added to the flocke of Chrystes congregation.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 175. Inordinate Zeale is a pernitious Reformer.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., III. i. In pure zeale, I doe not like the man: He is a heathen.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 1. Zeale to promote the common good.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 197. They deride our worship, and zeale, as Michall did Davids.
1681. Tate, Lear, Ep. Ded. My Zeal for all the Remains of Shakespear.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 19 Aug. 1641. Popular reformers, whose zeale had foolishly transported them in other places rather to act like mad-men than religious.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 1615. That first paternal virtue, Public Zeal.
1816. Byron, Siege Cor., iv. With all the zeal Which young and fiery converts feel.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, vi. I. 209. A mean between this irreverent criticism, and the excessive zeal of those who regarded Homer as a master of all arts and sciences.
1860. E. B. Ramsay, Remin., v. (ed. 6), 183. He joined with his drinking propensities a great zeal for the Episcopal Church.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vii. § 6. 400. The decay of Catholicism appealed strongly to the new spirit of Catholic zeal.
† (b) In obsolete constructions.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 122 b. Many bath a good zele to perfeccyon, whiche for lacke of this lyght … knoweth not what is to be done.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 535. His gude Lyfe and Maneris, and Zeill of Justice.
1561. Winȝet, Bk. Questions, To Rdr., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 53. Blindit be feruent zele towart the Mosaical law.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. ii. 27. Vnder the counterfeited Zeale of Heauen.
1723. Pres. St. Russia, II. 86. A Zeal of converting the neighboring Nations.
† (c) In plural. Obs.
c. 1533. Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1309/2. Such ar zeles without knowlege, and iudgement.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Viciss. Things (Arb.), 570. I doe not finde, that those Zeales, doe any great Effects.
1654. Z. Coke, Logick, Pref. Whereof (my Lords) … we … by your unwearied Zeals may … obtain the full … Fruition.
† 5. In weakened sense, with qualifying adj.: Intent, purpose, will, disposition (chiefly good zeal). Obs. (chiefly Sc.).
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. Prol. 29. Gentill curtas redaris of guide zeill.
a. 1533. Frith, Answ. More (1548), A 3 b. Master More which of late hath busyed him selfe to medle in al such matters (of what zele I will not defyne).
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot., VI. v. (1821), I. 207. Thus grew he, ilk day, more terribill and odius to his pepill, and governit the realme with na better zeil than he gat it.
1537. St. Papers Hen. VIII., VII. 707. The many discomoditeis,… the wiche be like were unknowen to hym or them that have preffarrid the same, who myght of a good syil doo it.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 14. Men of guid zeall and conscience.
† 6. transf. (from 4). A zealous person, zealot.
1614. B. Jonson, Barth. Fair, I. iii. As errant a Zeale as he.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 3. There are … both in Greek, Roman, and African Churches, solemnities,… whereof the wiser zeales doe make a Christian use.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., Ep. Ded. 9. Although some Zeales are so hot, and their eyes so inflamed with their ardors.
7. attrib. and Comb.
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife, etc. (1638), 140. The hooke and crooke of his *Zeale-blind Shepheard.
1628. Leighton, App. Parlt., ix. 202. The fyrie *zeal-consuming love of Gods howse.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XII. ccii. The Stranger’s *zeal-inflamed Eye.
1736. Thomson, Liberty, IV. 919. The worst the zeal-inflam’d Barbarian drew.
1774. J. Adams, in Fam. Lett. (1876), 23. This zeal will prove fatal to the fortune and felicity of my family…. Colonel Otis’s phrase is, ‘The *zeal-pot boils over.’
1671. Foulis, Hist. Romish Treasons (1681), 110. *Zeal-pretending gravity.
1727. P. Walker, in Biogr. Presbyt. (1827), I. 304. The Christ-dethroning, Church-ruining,… *Zeal-quenching Indulgence.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. II. Imposture, 35. The profane *zeal-scoffing Atheist.
a. 1644. Quarles, Sol. Recant., solil. v. 37. O but my *zeal-transported soul, take heed.
1797. Bentham, in Betham-Edwards, Autob. A. Young (1898), 309. Knowing … your zeal for all *zeal-worthy objects.
Hence Zealful a., full of zeal, zealous; † Zealist, a zealot; Zealless a., wanting in zeal (whence Zeallessness).
1602. Fulbecke, 2nd Pt. Parall., Ded. 1. My dutifull thankfull and *zealefull affection toward your graces person.
1605. Sylvester, Tri. Faith, iv. Meek Moses with a zeal-full ire.
1614. C. Brooke, Ghost Rich. III., lxxiv. Poems (1872), 107. Proue not a *Zelist in fond purity, Nor paint a heauen, nor counterfeit a hell.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 27. The Meccan zealists have here a few poore built Mosques.
1613. Spelman, De non Temer. Eccl. (1646), 30. O thou *zealeless mortality.
1643. Hammond, Serm., John xviii. 40. Wks. 1684, IV. 514. That heartless zealless behaviour in this very house of God.
1868. Pusey, Our Pharis., 15. A zealless, loveless, lifeless worship of God.
1667. Waterhouse, Narr. Fire Lond., 65. Levity and *Zealesness for Reformed Religion.
