zealist, n.

zealist
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zealist_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zealistnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zealist mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zealist. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the noun zealist come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the noun zealist is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zealist is from 1614, in the writing of Christopher Brooke, politician and poet.

### Nearby entries

1. Zealandic, adj. 1807–
2. Zealandish, adj. 1684–
3. zealator, n. a1464–
4. zeal-blind, adj. 1615–1898
5. zeal-consuming, adj. 1629–1882
6. zealed, adj. 1679–1903
7. zealer, n.?a1450–1673
8. zealful, adj. 1602–
9. zeal-inflamed, adj. 1648–
10. zealing, adj. 1459–1602
11. zealist, n.1614–
12. zealless, adj. a1594–
13. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
14. zealotic, adj. 1657–
15. zealotical, adj. 1630–
16. zealotism, n. 1645–
17. zealotist, n. & adj. 1593–
18. zealotry, n. 1653–
19. zealous, adj.?1495–
20. zealously, adv.?1495–
21. zealousness, n. c1555–

## Meaning & use

rare after 17th cent.

1. 1614–
   A zealot.
   Stressed as ˈzealist.
   1. 1614

      > Proue not a Zelist in fond Purity, Nor paint a Heauen, nor counterfeit a Hell.

      C. Brooke, Ghost of Richard III ii. lxxiv. sig. G2v
   2. 1638

      > The Meccan zealists have here a few poore built Mosques.

      T. Herbert, Some Yeares Travels (revised edition) 27
   3. a1657

      > His little Tutor, who like a second Protaeus could ingeniously disguise himself into the most safe shape; sometimes one of Goodwins Disciples, then a Presbyterian Zealist.

      C. Croke, Fortune's Uncertainty (1667) 16
   4. 1939

      > He throws himself into his hobby with the intensity of a zealist to escape for the moment the awful feeling of responsibility.

      Syracuse (New York) Journal 20 March l. 24/2
   religion
   1. Cananaean 1483–
      An epithet given to the apostle Simon; = Canaanite, n.¹ A.2.
   2. votary 1576–
      A devoted or zealous worshipper of a particular god, goddess, saint, or other person. Frequently with of or possessive. Now chiefly historical.
   3. Canaanite 1611–
      An epithet given to the apostle Simon. (See the etymology section.)
   4. spiritato 1613–98
      A person considered to exhibit excessive religious fervour; a religious zealot or fanatic. Cf. enthusiast, n. 1b.
   5. zealist 1614–
      A zealot.
   6. zelant 1624–26
      A zealot.
   7. zeal 1631–47
      In extended use. A zealous person; a zealot. Obsolete.
   8. religionist 1651–
      A person devoted to religion; an excessively religious person, a zealot. Also: a person professionally occupied with religion, as a minister or…
   9. ecstatic 1659–
      One who is subject to fits of ecstasy (see ecstasy, n. 2, 3).
   10. rapturist 1665–
       A person who has or goes into raptures; an enthusiast.
   11. religioner 1808–
       A person bound by religious vows; (more generally) a person devoted to a religious life, a religious person.
   12. subject 1820
       A person under the influence of religious emotion. Obsolete. rare.
   13. voteen 1825–
       A devout or zealously religious person, a devotee. Also (esp. in later use): a sanctimonious or ostentatiously pious person.
   14. zealator 1867–
       A zealot (see zealot, n.); esp. a person who is excessively, immoderately, or fanatically devoted to a cause or ideal, esp. a religious or…
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. zealator a1464–1918
      A person who zealously promotes or furthers a cause, belief, etc.; a zealous defender or supporter of something. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).
   2. zealotist 1593–
      A zealot (in either sense A.2 or sense A.3 of the noun). Cf. zealotism, n.
   3. zealot 1596–
      A person who is zealously, fervently or passionately devoted to a cause or belief, or to the pursuit of an objective or outcome. Frequently (and…
   4. zealist 1614–
      A zealot.
   5. zeal 1631–47
      In extended use. A zealous person; a zealot. Obsolete.
   6. zelotypist?1632
      A person given to or characterized by excessive jealousy.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zeal, n.

zeal, n. was revised in June 2018.