zealotic, adj.

zealotic
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zealotic_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zealoticadjective

## Earlier version

- zelotic, a. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zealotic mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective zealotic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the adjective zealotic?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1870 | 0.0006
1880 | 0.0005
1890 | 0.0005
1900 | 0.0005
1910 | 0.0005
1920 | 0.0007
1930 | 0.0007
1940 | 0.0008
1950 | 0.001
1960 | 0.0012
1970 | 0.0013
1980 | 0.0013
1990 | 0.0013
2000 | 0.0013
2010 | 0.0014

### How is the adjective zealotic pronounced?

#### British English

/zᵻˈlɒtɪk/
zuh-LOT-ik
/zɛˈlɒtɪk/
zel-O-tick

#### U.S. English

/zəˈlɑdɪk/
zuh-LAH-dick
/ziˈlɑdɪk/
zee-LAH-dick

### Where does the adjective zealotic come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1600s

The earliest known use of the adjective zealotic is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zealotic is from 1657, in the writing of John Gauden, bishop of Worcester.

zealotic is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Greek. Partly formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: Greek ζηλωτικός; zealot n., ‑ic suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zeal-blind, adj. 1615–1898
2. zeal-consuming, adj. 1629–1882
3. zealed, adj. 1679–1903
4. zealer, n.?a1450–1673
5. zealful, adj. 1602–
6. zeal-inflamed, adj. 1648–
7. zealing, adj. 1459–1602
8. zealist, n. 1614–
9. zealless, adj. a1594–
10. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
11. zealotic, adj.1657–
12. zealotical, adj. 1630–
13. zealotism, n. 1645–
14. zealotist, n. & adj. 1593–
15. zealotry, n. 1653–
16. zealous, adj.?1495–
17. zealously, adv.?1495–
18. zealousness, n. c1555–
19. zealousy, n. 1542–
20. zeal-pretending, adj. 1652–69
21. zeal-quenching, adj. 1688–1877

## Etymology

### Summary

Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Greek. Partly formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: Greek ζηλωτικός; zealot n., ‑ic suffix.
Partly < ancient Greek ζηλωτικός jealous, in Byzantine Greek also zealous < ζηλωτής zealot n. + ‑ικός ‑ic suffix,

and partly < zealot n. + ‑ic suffix.

Compare earlier zealotical adj.…
Partly < ancient Greek ζηλωτικός jealous, in Byzantine Greek also zealous < ζηλωτής zealot n. + ‑ικός ‑ic suffix,

and partly < zealot n. + ‑ic suffix.

Compare earlier zealotical adj.

### Notes

Compare post-classical Latin zeloticus (14th cent. in an isolated attestation).
With α forms compare discussion at zealator n. and zealot n.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   1657–
   Typical or characteristic of a zealot or zealots; characterized by (excessive) zeal.
   1. 1657

      > He..is, void as of all superstitious novelties, so, of all zealotick transports.

      J. Gauden in J. Watts, Scribe, Pharisee To Reader sig. +4v
   2. 1685

      > The Donatists had among them an Order of men.., that were wholly designed and set apart for these Zealotick exploits.

      J. Browne, Catholick Schismatology 16
   3. 1743

      > In such a legal and zelotic, such a passionate and fierce..spirit.

      J. Morris, Sermon iv. 90
   4. 1769

      > Reason has been too often vilified, and continues still to be so, by zelotic sects.

      J. Jones, Short & Safe Expedient 141
   5. 1889

      > We have the zelotic dogmatism of Epiphanes.

      J. B. Bury, History of Later Roman Empire vol. I. i. 3
   6. 1899

      > Such zealotic enthusiasm.

      J. Stalker, Christology of Jesus iv. 152
   7. 1916

      > The Pharisees were doing that passionately. It was their whole zealotic programme about which they had no misgivings.

      P. T. Forsyth in Contemporary Review June 762
   8. 2002

      > Propagated unceasingly by a zealotic and worldwide clerisy of economists, journalists, think-tanks and politicians.

      T. Nairn, Pariah 147
   9. 2016

      > The zealotic prosecution of supposed witches, who were often tortured to get bogus confessions.

      D. C. Allison, Night Comes v. 107
   1. fanatical?1550–
      = fanatic, adj. A.2.
   2. zealotical 1630–
      Resembling a zealot; characterized by (excessive) zeal; typical or characteristic of a zealot or zealots. Cf. zealotic, adj. 1.
   3. zealot 1641–
      That is a zealot; characteristic of a zealot or zealots.
   4. zealotic 1657–
      Typical or characteristic of a zealot or zealots; characterized by (excessive) zeal.
   5. fanatic 1659–
      Of persons, their actions, attributes, etc.: Characterized, influenced, or prompted by excessive and mistaken enthusiasm, esp. in religious matters.
   6. synagoguish 1690–
      Showing excessive zeal for the synagogue, fanatical.
   7. unsaving 1714
      (un-, prefix¹ affix 4.)
   8. swivel-eyed 1758–
      Of a person: (originally) having eyes pointing in different directions; having eyes which are rotating wildly. Hence: having a crazed or…
   9. hobby-horsical 1761–
      Belonging or devoted to a ‘hobby-horse’ or hobby, crotchety, whimsical.
   10. fanaticized 1827–
   11. lunatic fringe 1935–
       Chiefly disparaging or derogatory. Esp. of members of a political movement, or their beliefs: eccentric, extremist, fanatical.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   1860–
   Chiefly with capital initial. Of, relating, or belonging to the Zealots (zealot n. A.2). Cf. zealotist adj. historical.
   1. 1860

      > Having vainly endeavored to persuade the Jews to yield to the Roman army..and to pacify the zelotic party.

      J. H. A. Bomberger, Protestant Theol. & Ecclesiastical Encyclopedia vol. I. 71/2
   2. 1898

      > A protest by its author..against the Zelotic materialism of the age, and the secularization of the Pharisaic party.

      Expository Times vol. 9 374/1
   3. 1942

      > A man who, in his time, had been a member of the Zelotic movement.

      Journal Biblical Literature vol. 61 177
   4. 1971

      > Chapter vi..examines the Zealotic influence on the Jews of Cyrene.

      Israel Explor. Journal vol. 21 65/1
   5. 2004

      > They requested the release of Barabbas, a known Zealotic insurrectionist.

      W. H. Kelber in J. A. Draper, Orality, Literacy & Colonialism in Antiq. 147
   historical

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zᵻˈlɒtɪk/
zuh-LOT-ik
/zɛˈlɒtɪk/
zel-O-tick
/ziːˈlɒtɪk/
zee-LOT-ik

### U.S. English

/zəˈlɑdɪk/
zuh-LAH-dick
/ziˈlɑdɪk/
zee-LAH-dick

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

#### 1.

##### α.

1. 1600s
   zealotick
2. 1800s–
   zealotic

##### β.

1. 1600s
   zelotick
2. 1600s–1800s
   zelotic

#### 2. In sense 2 also with capital initial.

## Frequency

zealotic typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zealotic is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zealotic, adj., 1870–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1870 | 0.0006
1880 | 0.0005
1890 | 0.0005
1900 | 0.0005
1910 | 0.0005
1920 | 0.0007
1930 | 0.0007
1940 | 0.0008
1950 | 0.001
1960 | 0.0012
1970 | 0.0013
1980 | 0.0013
1990 | 0.0013
2000 | 0.0013
2010 | 0.0014

zealotic, adj. was revised in June 2018.

zealotic, adj. was last modified in September 2024.