zeallessness, n.

zeallessness
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeallessness_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zeallessnessnoun

## Factsheet

### Where does the noun zeallessness come from?

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

1. zealator, n. a1464–
2. zeal-blind, adj. 1615–1898
3. zeal-consuming, adj. 1629–1882
4. zealed, adj. 1679–1903
5. zealer, n.?a1450–1673
6. zealful, adj. 1602–
7. zeal-inflamed, adj. 1648–
8. zealing, adj. 1459–1602
9. zealist, n. 1614–
10. zealless, adj. a1594–
11. zeallessness, n.1667–
12. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
13. zealotic, adj. 1657–
14. zealotical, adj. 1630–
15. zealotism, n. 1645–
16. zealotist, n. & adj. 1593–
17. zealotry, n. 1653–
18. zealous, adj.?1495–
19. zealously, adv.?1495–
20. zealousness, n. c1555–
21. zealousy, n. 1542–

## Meaning & use

1. 1667–
   See zealless adj.
   Stressed as ˈzeallessness.
   1. 1667

      > Levity and Zealesness for Reformed Religion.

      E. Waterhouse, Short Narrative Fire in London 65
   2. 1921

      > Their zeallessness for God, religion and humanity.

      Indiana (Pennsylvania) Weekly Messenger 22 September 5/2
   3. 2008

      > Students themselves aren't to blame for this zeallessness, though.

      University Wire (Cambridge, Massachusetts) (Nexis) 22 April
   1. faintness 1398–
      The state of being faint in spirit; dejection, timorousness; inertness, slackness, sluggishness. Obsolete except in faintness of heart, etc.
   2. faint-heart 1580
      The fact or condition of having a faint heart; want of spirit. Obsolete.
   3. faint-heartedness 1580–
      The quality or state of being fainthearted; timidity, cowardice.
   4. halving 1613–80
      Partial or half-hearted service; divided loyalty; an instance of this. Cf. halve, v. 5. Obsolete.
   5. half-heartedness 1659–
      The fact or quality of being half-hearted; lack of commitment, energy, or enthusiasm.
   6. zeallessness 1667–
   7. halfness 1831–48
      Hesitation or vacillation between two opinions or courses; half-hearted or uncommitted action; irresoluteness. Obsolete.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also zealesness.

Originally published as part of the entry for zealless, adj.

zealless, adj. was revised in June 2018.