Revised 2018
† zeal-consumingadjective
Factsheet
What does the adjective zeal-consuming mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective zeal-consuming. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1880s.
Where does the adjective zeal-consuming come from?
Earliest known use
early 1600s
The earliest known use of the adjective zeal-consuming is in the early 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for zeal-consuming is from 1629, in the writing of Alexander Leighton, religious controversialist.
Nearby entries
- zea, n.1562–
- zeagonite, n.1823–
- zeal, n.a1382–
- zeal, v.1542–1687
- Zealander, n.¹1663–
- Zealander, n.²1773–
- Zealandic, adj.1807–
- Zealandish, adj.1684–
- zealator, n.a1464–
- zeal-blind, adj.1615–1898
- zeal-consuming, adj.1629–1882
- zealed, adj.1679–1903
- zealer, n.?a1450–1673
- zealful, adj.1602–
- zeal-inflamed, adj.1648–
- zealing, adj.1459–1602
- zealist, n.1614–
- zealless, adj.a1594–
- zealot, n. & adj.a1400–
- zealotic, adj.1657–
- zealotical, adj.1630–
Meaning & use
Obsolete rare.
- 1629–1882Burning with zeal; that is on fire with passionate enthusiasm or fervour; cf. consuming adj. 2a.
- 1629
The fyrie zeal-consuming love of Gods howse.
A. Leighton, Appeal to Parliament 202 - 1882
Nor..by apostles, confessors, zeal-consuming preachers has the iron-hearted world become melted.
W. H. Jellie, Preacher's Comm. Jeremiah (vi. 29) 135/2
- mada1350–Of a person: carried away by or filled with enthusiasm or desire; wildly excited; infatuated. With about, after, for, †of, on (chiefly British), over…
- zeal-consuming1629–1882Burning with zeal; that is on fire with passionate enthusiasm or fervour; cf. consuming, adj. 2a.
- zeal-transporteda1644–59Enraptured by zeal; carried away with passionate enthusiasm or fervour.
- crazy1747–With about, for, or over. Carried away by or filled with enthusiasm or excitement about a person or thing; passionately excited. Frequently in cra…
- wilda1817–Of persons: Violently excited. Elated, enthusiastic, ‘raving’. Also †const. after.
- besmitten1873–Affected by intense feelings of love or attraction for someone; infatuated, besotted, love-struck. Also (occasionally): obsessed with or very…
- schwärmerisch1894–Extravagantly enthusiastic; infatuated.
- bugs1908–With about, on, over, etc. Having or manifesting a passion for or obsession with someone or something; mad on, wildly excited about. Cf. bug, n.²…
- buggy1913–colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). With about, on, over, etc. Having a passion for or obsession with; mad on, wildly excited about. Cf. bugs…
- born-again1928–Of a person: having undergone a change in opinion, outlook, interest, etc., which is held or practised extremely enthusiastically or over-zealously.
- nutso1971–Mad, crazy; (in weakened sense) eccentric, unconventional, wild; (also) extremely enthusiastic.
- swivel-eyed1983–Of words, ideas, etc.: mad, crazy; extreme, fanatical.
- cray2002–Crazy. Often reduplicated as cray cray.