5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Zeal  \Zeal\  (z[=e]l),  n.  [F.  z[`e]le;  cf  Pg  &  It  zelo,  Sp 
  zelo,  celo;  from  L.  zelus,  Gr  ?,  probably  akin  to  ?  to  boil. 
  Cf  {Yeast},  {Jealous}.] 
  1.  Passionate  ardor  in  the  pursuit  of  anything  eagerness  in 
  favor  of  a  person  or  cause  ardent  and  active  interest; 
  engagedness;  enthusiasm;  fervor.  ``Ambition  varnished  o'er 
  with  zeal.''  --Milton.  ``Zeal,  the  blind  conductor  of  the 
  will.''  --Dryden.  ``Zeal's  never-dying  fire.''  --Keble. 
 
  I  bear  them  record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but 
  not  according  to  knowledge.  --Rom.  x.  2. 
 
  A  zeal  for  liberty  is  sometimes  an  eagerness  to 
  subvert  with  little  care  what  shall  be  established. 
  --Johnson. 
 
  2.  A  zealot.  [Obs.]  --B.  Jonson 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Zeal  \Zeal\,  v.  i. 
  To  be  zealous.  [Obs.  &  R.]  --Bacon. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  zeal 
  n  1:  a  feeling  of  strong  eagerness  (usually  in  favor  of  a  person 
  or  cause);  "they  were  imbued  with  a  revolutionary 
  ardor";  "he  felt  a  kind  of  religious  zeal"  [syn:  {ardor}, 
  {ardour},  {elan}] 
  2:  excessive  fervor  to  do  something  or  accomplish  some  end  "he 
  had  an  absolute  zeal  for  litigation" 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Zeal 
  an  earnest  temper;  may  be  enlightened  (Num.  25:11-13;  2  Cor. 
  7:11;  9:2),  or  ignorant  and  misdirected  (Rom.  10:2;  Phil.  3:6). 
  As  a  Christian  grace,  it  must  be  grounded  on  right  principles 
  and  directed  to  right  ends  (Gal.  4:18).  It  is  sometimes  ascribed 
  to  God  (2  Kings  19:31;  Isa.  9:7;  37:32;  Ezek.  5:13). 
 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  ZEAL,  n.  A  certain  nervous  disorder  afflicting  the  young  and 
  inexperienced.  A  passion  that  goeth  before  a  sprawl. 
 
  When  Zeal  sought  Gratitude  for  his  reward 
  He  went  away  exclaiming:  "O  my  Lord!" 
  "What  do  you  want?"  the  Lord  asked,  bending  down 
  "An  ointment  for  my  cracked  and  bleeding  crown." 
  Jum  Coople 
 
 

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