Also 5–6 zelatour, 6 zelat(e)ur, -oure, zealatour, 9 zealator, zealoter. [a. OF. zelateur (= It. zelatore, Sp. celador, Pg. zelador) or its source eccl. L. zēlātor, f. zēlāre: see ZEAL v. The spellings with zeal- are due to assimilation to zeal, zealot.]
1. A zealous defender or supporter; one who zealously furthers the cause of. rare.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 195. That the qween and the prince schuld be receyved as good zelatores of the rem.
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xxvii. (1883), II. 426. Many zelatours or fauourers of the publyke weale.
1549. Compl. Scot., ix. 76. I praye ȝou to be zelaturs of the lau of gode.
1600. Hamilton, Facile Traictise, Ded. Al zelateurs of the trew seruice of God.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Journ. Arabia, II. 408. ‘Meddey’ yeeyah,’ ‘men of zeal,’ or ‘Zelators.’ Ibid., II. 3. He had figured conspicuously in the first band of Zelators at the epoch of their foundation in 1855.
1891. Catholic News, 25 July, 8/6. The Salford Diocesan Branch of the Zelators of St. Joseph’s Foreign Missionary Society.
2. = ZEALOT 1, 2. rare.
1644. H. Leslie, Blessing of Judah, 41. I can best compare them … with that Rebellious rout of the Iewes, who called themselves Zelators.
1867. R. Palgrave, in Macm. Mag., XVI. 143/1. Even stoutest parliamentary ‘zealoters’ must yield to utter weariness of body.
3. A sister in a religious community whose duty is to keep a check upon the conduct of the mother superior or of the younger religious and novices.
[1671. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xvi. 113. Nor was there any accusation against her in the Chapter concerning the least defect; although the smallest, and most minute matters are by the Zelatore observed, and mentioned there.]
1851. Ullathorne, Plea Rights Relig. Women, 11. The rule commonly requires also that there should be two prudent sisters who are called Zealators, and whose duty it is to admonish the superioress, should she exceed or fail in her duties.
