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
U.S. English
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
- 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–
- zealotism, n.1645–
- zealotist, n. & adj.1593–
- zealotry, n.1653–
Etymology
Meaning & use
- 1602–Full of or inspired by zeal; characterized by passionate enthusiasm; zealous.
- 1602
My dutifull thankfull and zealefull affection toward your graces person.
W. Fulbecke, 2nd Part Parallele or Conf. Law Epistle Ded. sig. A2v - 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 - 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 - 1885
You tried to share The zealful ardor that called him there.
M. Morris, Poems 123 - 1907
At 86 years of age, he is as fresh and zealful and busy as ever.
Goshen (Indiana) Daily Democrat 18 December - 2014
A zealful counter-movement, which appealed to Samuel Johnson and the Wesleys.
Daily Telegraph (Nexis) 2 August 23
- needfulOld English–1230Earnest, eager.
- anguishous?c1225–1500Eager, zealous, ardent.
- 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…
- throc1330–1540Keen, eager, zealous, earnest.
- fierce1377–Ardent, eager; full of violent desire; furiously zealous or active. †Const. for, to, upon, and to with infinitive.
- desirousa1393–1661Very willing, eager, zealous. Esp. in desirous in arms and variants: ready and eager to fight, courageous. Obsolete.
- affectuousa1400–1680Earnest in feeling or desire; eager, ardent. Obsolete.
- yeverousa1400–1907Eager, impetuous.
- inwardc1402–1627Conceived in or coming from one's inmost heart; deeply felt, heartfelt; hence, earnest, fervent.
- earnestful?1406–1563Showing sincere and intense feeling or conviction, serious; = earnest, adj. 1.
- rathe?c1450Of a person or his or her actions: quick, prompt; eager, vehement.
- zealing1459–1602Zealous.
- increc1480Earnest, fervent, eager, hearty.
- affectual1483–1581Earnest, ardent, eager. Obsolete.
- zealous1526–Of a person, group, etc.: fervently or passionately devoted to a cause, belief, undertaking, etc… With the object towards which zeal is directed…
- affectioneda1533–1623Eager, ambitious; zealous. Obsolete.
- jealous1535–1661Vehement in feeling, as in wrath, desire, or devotion. Devoted, eager, zealous. Obsolete.
- heartyc1540–Energetic or thorough in one's actions or desires; zealous, eager, fervent. In early use frequently with for, to.
- affectivec1550Earnest, zealous. Obsolete. rare.
- earnest1563Of an action or words: proceeding from or implying intensity of feeling or conviction; serious, lacking humour or levity.
- forward1570–Ardent, spirited, zealous, esp. in an action or cause; (esp. in military contexts, of a person or an approach) bold, favouring vigorous aggressive…
- pricking1575That presses forward; keen, eager. Obsolete. rare.
- affectionate1598–1750Eager, ambitious, earnest. Obsolete.
- passiveless1602–54Not passive.
- zealful1602–Full of or inspired by zeal; characterized by passionate enthusiasm; zealous.
- full-hearteda1616–Full of spirit, courage, etc.; wholehearted; (of an action) carried out with the greatest possible enthusiasm, commitment, etc.
- wholehearted1644–Of a person: completely devoted or committed; totally sincere.
- intense1645–Of personal, esp. mental, action, etc.: Strained or strenuously directed to some end; intent, eager, earnest, ardent. (Often not distinguished…
- high1649–1721Zealous, eager, keen. Esp. with for. Obsolete.
- covetous1652–Of actions: Eager.
- thorough-hearted1656–1913Wholehearted, entirely devoted.
- keen as mustard1659–In similative and proverbial phrases, esp. with reference to the heat or pungency of mustard. hot (also strong) as mustard: very powerful or…
- fell1667–1888With for, on, †to. Obsolete.
- fervent1673Of persons, their passions, dispositions, or actions: Ardent, intensely earnest. From 17th cent. almost exclusively with reference to love or…
- smirk1674Eager, ardent. Obsolete. rare.
- zealed1679–1903Zealous; demonstrating or characterized by zeal. Cf. over-zealed, adj.
- prest1697Ready in mind, disposition, or will, esp. for something or to do something; inclined, disposed, willing; eager, keen, prompt.
- strenuous1713–Zealous, earnest, ‘strong’ as a partisan or opponent. Obsolete except as contextual use of sense 1.
- enthusiastic1741–Characterized by, having, or displaying passion or zeal for a cause or principle, or in pursuing an activity or objective; ardent, keen, avid. Of…
- enthusiastical1755–Full of or characterized by passion, eagerness, or keen interest; ardent, avid; energetic. Cf. enthusiastic, adj. A.3a, A.3b. Now rare.
- zeal-worthy1797Deserving of zeal or enthusiasm.
- whole-souled1821–= wholehearted, adj. 2.
- con amore1828–Quasi-adj. Friendly, hearty.
- lyrical1875–Excitedly effusive; highly enthusiastic, fervent. Frequently in to wax lyrical. colloquial (originally U.S.).
- mustard1891–Of the colour of mustard; dark brownish yellow.
- gung ho1942–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…
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
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
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
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