ZEAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does zeal mean? 

• ZEAL (noun)
  The noun ZEAL has 3 senses:

1. a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

2. excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end

3. prompt willingness

  Familiarity information: ZEAL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZEAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

ardor; ardour; elan; zeal

Context example:

he felt a kind of religious zeal

Hypernyms ("zeal" is a kind of...):

avidity; avidness; eagerness; keenness (a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something)

Derivation:

zealous (marked by active interest and enthusiasm)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Context example:

he had an absolute zeal for litigation

Hypernyms ("zeal" is a kind of...):

ardor; ardour; fervency; fervidness; fervor; fervour; fire (feelings of great warmth and intensity)

Derivation:

zealous (marked by active interest and enthusiasm)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Prompt willingness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

eagerness; forwardness; readiness; zeal

Context example:

he tried to explain his forwardness in battle

Hypernyms ("zeal" is a kind of...):

willingness (cheerful compliance)

 Context examples 

She looked steadily on life and assumed its duties with courage and zeal.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

If you continue to show zeal and intelligence you will find the company a good master.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When he came back, alas! the zeal of the business was gone by.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

At this time and place, she become all on fire with zeal; some new guiding power be in her manifested, for she point to a road and say:—This is the way.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Oh, Teddy, such doings!" and Jo told Amy's wrongs with sisterly zeal.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“If I were to decline the part,” said Maria, with renewed zeal, “Julia would certainly take it.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Frank's was the first idea; and his the greatest zeal in pursuing it; for the lady was the best judge of the difficulties, and the most solicitous for accommodation and appearance.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He had abundantly earned the privilege of intimate discussion of her sister's disappointment, by the friendly zeal with which he had endeavoured to soften it, and they always conversed with confidence.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

And in her zeal, when she had finished with her own, she attacked the belongings of her men and went through them like a tornado.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

In the prayer following the chapter, all his energy gathered—all his stern zeal woke: he was in deep earnest, wrestling with God, and resolved on a conquest.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)