Earliest known use
mid 1600s
The earliest known use of the noun zeallessness is in the mid 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for zeallessness is from 1667, in the writing of Edward Waterhouse, heraldic writer.
Nearby entries
- 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–
- zeallessness, n.1667–
- zealot, n. & adj.a1400–
- zealotic, adj.1657–
- zealotical, adj.1630–
- zealotism, n.1645–
- zealotist, n. & adj.1593–
- zealotry, n.1653–
- zealous, adj.?1495–
- zealously, adv.?1495–
- zealousness, n.c1555–
- zealousy, n.1542–
1667–
Stressed as ˈzeallessness.
1667
Levity and Zealesness for Reformed Religion.
E. Waterhouse, Short Narrative Fire in London 65
1921
Their zeallessness for God, religion and humanity.
Indiana (Pennsylvania) Weekly Messenger 22 September 5/2
2008
Students themselves aren't to blame for this zeallessness, though.
University Wire (Cambridge, Massachusetts) (Nexis) 22 April
The state of being faint in spirit; dejection, timorousness; inertness, slackness, sluggishness. Obsolete except in faintness of heart, etc.
The fact or condition of having a faint heart; want of spirit. Obsolete.
The quality or state of being fainthearted; timidity, cowardice.
Partial or half-hearted service; divided loyalty; an instance of this. Cf. halve, v. 5. Obsolete.
The fact or quality of being half-hearted; lack of commitment, energy, or enthusiasm.
Hesitation or vacillation between two opinions or courses; half-hearted or uncommitted action; irresoluteness. Obsolete.
Originally published as part of the entry for zealless, adj.
zealless, adj. was revised in June 2018.
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