zealful, adj.

zealful
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zealful_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zealfuladjective

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective zealful mean?

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

### How is the adjective zealful pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈziːlf(ᵿ)l/
ZEEL-fuhl

#### U.S. English

/ˈzilf(ə)l/
ZEEL-fuhl

### Where does the adjective zealful come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the adjective zealful is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zealful is from 1602, in the writing of William Fulbecke, lawyer and historian.

zealful is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: zeal n., ‑ful suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zeal, v. 1542–1687
2. Zealander, n.¹ 1663–
3. Zealander, n.² 1773–
4. Zealandic, adj. 1807–
5. Zealandish, adj. 1684–
6. zealator, n. a1464–
7. zeal-blind, adj. 1615–1898
8. zeal-consuming, adj. 1629–1882
9. zealed, adj. 1679–1903
10. zealer, n.?a1450–1673
11. zealful, adj.1602–
12. zeal-inflamed, adj. 1648–
13. zealing, adj. 1459–1602
14. zealist, n. 1614–
15. zealless, adj. a1594–
16. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
17. zealotic, adj. 1657–
18. zealotical, adj. 1630–
19. zealotism, n. 1645–
20. zealotist, n. & adj. 1593–
21. zealotry, n. 1653–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: zeal n., ‑ful suffix.
< zeal n. + ‑ful suffix.

Compare earlier zealless adj. Compare also earlier zealous adj., zealing adj.

## Meaning & use

1. 1602–
   Full of or inspired by zeal; characterized by passionate enthusiasm; zealous.
   1. 1602

      > My dutifull thankfull and zealefull affection toward your graces person.

      W. Fulbecke, 2nd Part Parallele or Conf. Law Epistle Ded. sig. A2v
   2. 1608

      > Meek Moses with a zeal-full ire.

      J. Sylvester, translation of G. de S. Du Bartas, Triumph of Faith in translation of Deuine Weekes & Workes (new edition) 188
   3. 1811

      > The zealful Secretary then darts forth..into the region of politics.

      W. Marshall, Review of Reports to Board of Agriculture from Eastern Department of England 98
   4. 1885

      > You tried to share The zealful ardor that called him there.

      M. Morris, Poems 123
   5. 1907

      > At 86 years of age, he is as fresh and zealful and busy as ever.

      Goshen (Indiana) Daily Democrat 18 December
   6. 2014

      > A zealful counter-movement, which appealed to Samuel Johnson and the Wesleys.

      Daily Telegraph (Nexis) 2 August 23
   1. needful Old English–1230
      Earnest, eager.
   2. anguishous?c1225–1500
      Eager, zealous, ardent.
   3. eager?a1300–
      Of a person: full of keen desire or appetite; impatiently longing to do or obtain something. With infinitive expressing the desired action. Keen…
   4. thro c1330–1540
      Keen, eager, zealous, earnest.
   5. fierce 1377–
      Ardent, eager; full of violent desire; furiously zealous or active. †Const. for, to, upon, and to with infinitive.
   6. desirous a1393–1661
      Very willing, eager, zealous. Esp. in desirous in arms and variants: ready and eager to fight, courageous. Obsolete.
   7. affectuous a1400–1680
      Earnest in feeling or desire; eager, ardent. Obsolete.
   8. yeverous a1400–1907
      Eager, impetuous.
   9. inward c1402–1627
      Conceived in or coming from one's inmost heart; deeply felt, heartfelt; hence, earnest, fervent.
   10. earnestful?1406–1563
       Showing sincere and intense feeling or conviction, serious; = earnest, adj. 1.
   11. rathe?c1450
       Of a person or his or her actions: quick, prompt; eager, vehement.
   12. zealing 1459–1602
       Zealous.
   13. incre c1480
       Earnest, fervent, eager, hearty.
   14. affectual 1483–1581
       Earnest, ardent, eager. Obsolete.
   15. zealous 1526–
       Of a person, group, etc.: fervently or passionately devoted to a cause, belief, undertaking, etc… With the object towards which zeal is directed…
   16. affectioned a1533–1623
       Eager, ambitious; zealous. Obsolete.
   17. jealous 1535–1661
       Vehement in feeling, as in wrath, desire, or devotion. Devoted, eager, zealous. Obsolete.
   18. hearty c1540–
       Energetic or thorough in one's actions or desires; zealous, eager, fervent. In early use frequently with for, to.
   19. affective c1550
       Earnest, zealous. Obsolete. rare.
   20. earnest 1563
       Of an action or words: proceeding from or implying intensity of feeling or conviction; serious, lacking humour or levity.
   21. forward 1570–
       Ardent, spirited, zealous, esp. in an action or cause; (esp. in military contexts, of a person or an approach) bold, favouring vigorous aggressive…
   22. pricking 1575
       That presses forward; keen, eager. Obsolete. rare.
   23. affectionate 1598–1750
       Eager, ambitious, earnest. Obsolete.
   24. passiveless 1602–54
       Not passive.
   25. zealful 1602–
       Full of or inspired by zeal; characterized by passionate enthusiasm; zealous.
   26. full-hearted a1616–
       Full of spirit, courage, etc.; wholehearted; (of an action) carried out with the greatest possible enthusiasm, commitment, etc.
   27. wholehearted 1644–
       Of a person: completely devoted or committed; totally sincere.
   28. intense 1645–
       Of personal, esp. mental, action, etc.: Strained or strenuously directed to some end; intent, eager, earnest, ardent. (Often not distinguished…
   29. high 1649–1721
       Zealous, eager, keen. Esp. with for. Obsolete.
   30. covetous 1652–
       Of actions: Eager.
   31. thorough-hearted 1656–1913
       Wholehearted, entirely devoted.
   32. keen as mustard 1659–
       In similative and proverbial phrases, esp. with reference to the heat or pungency of mustard. hot (also strong) as mustard: very powerful or…
   33. fell 1667–1888
       With for, on, †to. Obsolete.
   34. fervent 1673
       Of persons, their passions, dispositions, or actions: Ardent, intensely earnest. From 17th cent. almost exclusively with reference to love or…
   35. smirk 1674
       Eager, ardent. Obsolete. rare.
   36. zealed 1679–1903
       Zealous; demonstrating or characterized by zeal. Cf. over-zealed, adj.
   37. prest 1697
       Ready in mind, disposition, or will, esp. for something or to do something; inclined, disposed, willing; eager, keen, prompt.
   38. strenuous 1713–
       Zealous, earnest, ‘strong’ as a partisan or opponent. Obsolete except as contextual use of sense 1.
   39. enthusiastic 1741–
       Characterized by, having, or displaying passion or zeal for a cause or principle, or in pursuing an activity or objective; ardent, keen, avid. Of…
   40. enthusiastical 1755–
       Full of or characterized by passion, eagerness, or keen interest; ardent, avid; energetic. Cf. enthusiastic, adj. A.3a, A.3b. Now rare.
   41. zeal-worthy 1797
       Deserving of zeal or enthusiasm.
   42. whole-souled 1821–
       = wholehearted, adj. 2.
   43. con amore 1828–
       Quasi-adj. Friendly, hearty.
   44. lyrical 1875–
       Excitedly effusive; highly enthusiastic, fervent. Frequently in to wax lyrical. colloquial (originally U.S.).
   45. mustard 1891–
       Of the colour of mustard; dark brownish yellow.
   46. gung ho 1942–
       A slogan adopted in the war of 1939–1945 by the United States Marines under General E. Carlson (1896–1947); hence as adj.: enthusiastic, eager…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈziːlf(ᵿ)l/
ZEEL-fuhl

### U.S. English

/ˈzilf(ə)l/
ZEEL-fuhl

####

##### 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

See zeal n. and ‑ful suffix.

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

zealful, adj. was revised in June 2018.

zealful, adj. was last modified in July 2023.