zealous

zeal·ous

adjective \ˈze-ləs\

Definition of ZEALOUS

: marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal : filled with or characterized by zeal <zealous missionaries>

— zeal·ous·ly adverb

— zeal·ous·ness noun

Examples of ZEALOUS

1. The detective was zealous in her pursuit of the kidnappers.
2. I was zealous in my demands on my sisters for promptness in rehearsals. I was passionate, intolerant of small talk, hungry for knowledge, grabby, bossy, precocious. —Lynn Margulis, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005
3. Sir Thomas was zealous in the pursuit of recusants, not poachers, and was otherwise an amiable man. —S. Schoenbaum, Shakespeare's Lives, 1991
4. Zealous in his ministerial labours, blameless in his life and habits, he yet did not appear to enjoy that mental serenity, that inward content, which should be the reward of every sincere Christian and practical philanthropist. —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847
5. He had no cause for self-reproach on the score of neglect, or want of thought, for he had been devoted to her service; and yet a hundred little occasions rose up before him, on which he fancied he might have been more zealous, and more earnest, and wished he had been. —Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, 1838

First Known Use of ZEALOUS

1526

Rhymes with ZEALOUS

Hellas, jealous, trellis