zeal

noun

Etymology: From Middle English zele, from Old French zel, from Late Latin zēlus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”), from Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (“to search”). Related to jealous.

1. The fervour or tireless devotion for a person, cause, or ideal and determination in its furtherance; diligent enthusiasm; powerful interest.

   “She extols the virtues of veganism with missionary zeal.”

   “I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

2. A person who exhibits such fervour or tireless devotion.

   “[…] like a malicious purblinde zeale as thou art!”

   “[…] there are questionlesse both in Greeke, Roman and Africa Churches, solemnities, and ceremonies, whereof the wiser zeales doe make a Christian use, and stand condemned by us;”

3. A group of zebras.

   “A zeal of zebras confuses predators. Each zebra has a different set of stripes.”

   “Zebras can also be called a herd or a zeal.”