zealousy, n.

zealousy
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zealousy_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zealousynoun

## Earlier version

- zealousy in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zealousy mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zealousy, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zealousy?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1760 | 0.0046
1770 | 0.0051
1780 | 0.0044
1790 | 0.004
1800 | 0.0042
1810 | 0.0046
1820 | 0.004
1830 | 0.0037
1840 | 0.0028
1850 | 0.0033
1860 | 0.0033
1870 | 0.0024
1880 | 0.0021
1890 | 0.002
1900 | 0.0015
1910 | 0.0014
1920 | 0.001
1930 | 0.0008
1940 | 0.0008
1950 | 0.0009
1960 | 0.0007
1970 | 0.0006
1980 | 0.0007
1990 | 0.0006
2000 | 0.0005
2010 | 0.0005

### How is the noun zealousy pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɛləsi/
ZEL-uh-see

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɛləsi/
ZEL-uh-see

### Where does the noun zealousy come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1500s

The earliest known use of the noun zealousy is in the mid 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for zealousy is from 1542, in a translation by Nicholas Udall, schoolmaster and playwright.

zealousy is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: zealous adj., ‑y suffix3.

### Nearby entries

1. zealless, adj. a1594–
2. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
3. zealotic, adj. 1657–
4. zealotical, adj. 1630–
5. zealotism, n. 1645–
6. zealotist, n. & adj. 1593–
7. zealotry, n. 1653–
8. zealous, adj.?1495–
9. zealously, adv.?1495–
10. zealousness, n. c1555–
11. zealousy, n.1542–
12. zeal-pretending, adj. 1652–69
13. zeal-quenching, adj. 1688–1877
14. zeal-scoffing, adj. 1605
15. zeal-transported, adj. a1644–59
16. zeal-worthy, adj. 1797
17. zea maize, n. 1811–
18. zearalanol, n. 1966–
19. zearalenone, n. 1966–
20. zeatin, n. 1963–
21. zeaxanthin, n. 1929–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by derivation.
Etymons: zealous adj., ‑y suffix3.
< zealous adj. (although this is first attested slightly later in the sense ‘jealous’: compare zealous adj. 3) + ‑y suffix3, after jealousy n.

## Meaning & use

1. 1.
   1542–1656
   † Jealousy; mistrust. Obsolete.
   1. 1542

      > Whiche grudges;..the zelousie, and the eagre feersenes of Olympias did augmente.

      N. Udall in translation of Erasmus, Apophthegmes ii. f. 177v
   2. 1598

      > Or Zelozie of wife, or Sons suspect, or dout of frind.

      Queen Elizabeth I, translation of Plutarch, De Curiositate in Queen Elizabeth's Englishings (1899) 126/25
   3. 1656

      > The Lover that doth charme you and for whom you burn, is not so to you as you'd have him, an evil humour, or a little zealousie [French jalousie], may banish him your good opinion.

      W. Lower, translation of P. Corneille, Horatius iii. iv. 33
   1. jealousness c1380–
      The quality of being jealous; jealousy; suspicion.
   2. jealouste a1382–82
      Jealousy; zeal.
   3. heart-burning c1425–
      An angry and embittered state of mind, felt but not openly expressed; rankling jealousy, resentment, or discontent.
   4. jealousy c1425–
      The state of mind arising from the suspicion, apprehension, or knowledge of rivalry. In respect of success or advantage: Fear of losing some good…
   5. zealousy 1542–1656
      Jealousy; mistrust. Obsolete.
   6. zelotypia 1566–
      Jealousy; esp. obsessive or excessive jealousy, sometimes characterized as an illness.
   7. heartburn 1579–
      Originally: jealousy, resentment; rankling discontent; disappointment. Subsequently: worry, anxiety; concern, misgivings. Also (occasionally): an…
   8. yellowness a1586–1621
      Jealousy; envy. Cf. yellow, adj. A.3a. Obsolete.
   9. yellows 1601–83
      Jealousy; envy. Cf. yellow, adj. A.3a. Obsolete.
   10. green-eyed monster a1616–
       figurative. In and after Shakespeare. (Usually with the) jealousy.
   11. zelotypy 1623–1794
       Jealousy. Cf. zelotypia, n.
   12. green eye a1845–
       The eye of jealousy (cf. green-eyed, adj.).
   13. jealous-hood 1846–
       So printed in the 4th Folio of Shakespeare (1685), and taken by some as a single word, with the sense ‘jealousy’.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   c1565–
   Zeal, zealousness.
   1. c1565

      > They to whom God hath gyuen the greater giftes, & whom he hath called to higher romes, are most bounde to be zealous for Gods glory, with godly zelousie to profit the Church & spouse of Christ vnder their charge.

      W. Turner, Hunting of Fox & Wolfe (new edition) sig. A.ii
   2. 1597

      > His armour zelousie, his breast-plate heauen.

      T. Middleton, Wisdome of Solomon Paraphrased v. sig. G2v
   3. 1659

      > My zeal for you is good, and in a good thing, and constant, when I am absent, as well as present: The zealousie of my Emulators concerning you is perverse and counterfeit: Therefore return yee to my Doctrine.

      W. Retchford, translation of D. Dickson, Exposition of St. Pauls Epistles iv. 101/2
   4. 1833

      > The zealousy of each sect, for its own respectibility [sic] and success.

      Z. Barstow, Sermon 10
   5. 1896

      > His remarks were certainly of a generous character considering the zealousy of his late candidacy.

      Delphi (Indiana) Journal 9 April
   6. 1919

      > No moral zealousy could have worked the miracle which these business men have wrought.

      W. G. Fitz-Gerald, America's Day (new edition) vii. 108
   7. 2015

      > With zealousy they devised new inventions to please the council.

      E. S. Johnson, Light xii. 194
   1. jealouste a1382–82
      Jealousy; zeal.
   2. yeveroushead a1400
      Desire, eagerness.
   3. zeal a1413–
      Passionate enthusiasm for or dedication to a cause, belief, undertaking, etc.; vehement, eager, or… As a count noun. Now somewhat rare.
   4. zeal c1425–
      Passionate enthusiasm for or dedication to a cause, belief, undertaking, etc.; vehement, eager, or… As a mass noun.
   5. jealousy 1436–1565
      Zeal or vehemence of feeling in favour of a person or thing; devotion, eagerness, anxiety to serve. Obsolete.
   6. eagerness c1450–1678
      Impetuosity, fierceness. Obsolete.
   7. heartiness c1475–
      The quality or condition of being hearty (in various senses of the adjective).
   8. estudy 1483
      Care, desire, zeal; = study, n.
   9. fierceness 1533–
      Eagerness. †Const. to with infinitive.
   10. zealousness c1555–
       The quality of being zealous; zeal, enthusiasm.
   11. zealousy c1565–
       Zeal, zealousness.
   12. edge 1580–1867
       figurative and in extended use. Enthusiasm. Obsolete.
   13. warmth 1600–
       An excited or fervent state of the feelings; strength or glow of feeling; fervent or vehement character (of an expression, welcome, salute, etc.)…
   14. empressement 1709–
       Enthusiasm, effusiveness; animated display of friendliness.
   15. enthusiasm 1717–
       Originally: rapturous intensity of feeling in favour of a particular cause, principle, etc.; passionate eagerness or zeal in the pursuit of an…
   16. full-heartedness 1820–
       Wholehearted enthusiasm or commitment; (also) strong emotional investment.
   17. entrain 1847–
       Enthusiasm, liveliness; an instance of this.
   18. impressment 1854–
       Earnestness, ardour.
   19. fanaticism 1855–
       In a weaker sense: Eagerness or enthusiasm in any pursuit.
   20. keenness 1875–
       Intensity of feeling or action; eagerness, incisiveness.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɛləsi/
ZEL-uh-see

### U.S. English

/ˈzɛləsi/
ZEL-uh-see

####

##### 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. 1500s
   zelosie, zelousie, zelousye, zelozie
2. 1600s
   zealousie
3. 1800s–
   zealousy

## Frequency

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

zealousy is in frequency band 1, which contains words occurring fewer than 0.001 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 zealousy, n., 1760–2010

* 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
--- | ---
1760 | 0.0046
1770 | 0.0051
1780 | 0.0044
1790 | 0.004
1800 | 0.0042
1810 | 0.0046
1820 | 0.004
1830 | 0.0037
1840 | 0.0028
1850 | 0.0033
1860 | 0.0033
1870 | 0.0024
1880 | 0.0021
1890 | 0.002
1900 | 0.0015
1910 | 0.0014
1920 | 0.001
1930 | 0.0008
1940 | 0.0008
1950 | 0.0009
1960 | 0.0007
1970 | 0.0006
1980 | 0.0007
1990 | 0.0006
2000 | 0.0005
2010 | 0.0005

zealousy, n. was revised in June 2018.

zealousy, n. was last modified in July 2023.