zealotist, n. & adj.

zealotist
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zealotist_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zealotistnoun & adjective

## Factsheet

### What does the word zealotist mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zealotist. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How is the word zealotist pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɛlətɪst/
ZEL-uh-tist

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɛlədəst/
ZEL-uh-duhst

### Where does the word zealotist come from?

Earliest known use

late 1500s

The earliest known use of the word zealotist is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for zealotist is from 1593, in the writing of Gabriel Harvey, scholar and writer.

zealotist is a borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.

Etymons: Latin zelotes, ‑ist suffix.

### Nearby entries

1. zealer, n.?a1450–1673
2. zealful, adj. 1602–
3. zeal-inflamed, adj. 1648–
4. zealing, adj. 1459–1602
5. zealist, n. 1614–
6. zealless, adj. a1594–
7. zealot, n. & adj. a1400–
8. zealotic, adj. 1657–
9. zealotical, adj. 1630–
10. zealotism, n. 1645–
11. zealotist, n. & adj.1593–
12. zealotry, n. 1653–
13. zealous, adj.?1495–
14. zealously, adv.?1495–
15. zealousness, n. c1555–
16. zealousy, n. 1542–
17. zeal-pretending, adj. 1652–69
18. zeal-quenching, adj. 1688–1877
19. zeal-scoffing, adj. 1605
20. zeal-transported, adj. a1644–59
21. zeal-worthy, adj. 1797

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.
Etymons: Latin zelotes, ‑ist suffix.
< post-classical Latin zelotes zealot n. + ‑ist suffix.

Compare earlier zealot n. and later zealotism n.…
< post-classical Latin zelotes zealot n. + ‑ist suffix.

Compare earlier zealot n. and later zealotism n.

### Notes

With use as adjective compare earlier zealot adj.
With the formal variation compare discussion at zealot n.

## Meaning & use

Now somewhat rare or historical.

1. noun
   1. 1593–
      A zealot (in either sense A.2 or sense A.3 of the noun). Cf. zealotism n.
      1. 1593

         > The Iewes had their..seperate, and precise Pharises..their feruent, and illuminate Zelotistes.

         G. Harvey, Pierces Supererogation 104
      2. 1608

         > I haue sinned much in following blind Zelo[t]ists, setting al on fire with Samsons foxes.

         H. Clapham, Errour on Left Hand 8
      3. 1640

         > I could wish, that these sciolous Zelotists had more Judgement joynd with their Zeale.

         J. Howell, Δενδρολογια 87
      4. 1848

         > Judas of Gamala and the Zelotists [German des Zelotismus] had incited the people to expect in Messiah a deliverer from the temporal yoke of the Romans.

         J. M'Clintock & C. E. Blumenthal, translation of A. Neander, Life of Jesus Christ 296
      5. 1911

         > Tuesday afternoon, an enthusiastic meeting of hockey zealotists was held at the Shortridge Hockey field.

         Shortridge Daily Echo (Indianapolis) 28 September
      6. 1970

         > Some state that Judas was a Zealotist.

         Monroe (Louisiana) News Star 18 September
      historical
      1. zealator a1464–1918
         A person who zealously promotes or furthers a cause, belief, etc.; a zealous defender or supporter of something. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).
      2. zealotist 1593–
         A zealot (in either sense A.2 or sense A.3 of the noun). Cf. zealotism, n.
      3. zealot 1596–
         A person who is zealously, fervently or passionately devoted to a cause or belief, or to the pursuit of an objective or outcome. Frequently (and…
      4. zealist 1614–
         A zealot.
      5. zeal 1631–47
         In extended use. A zealous person; a zealot. Obsolete.
      6. zelotypist?1632
         A person given to or characterized by excessive jealousy.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. adjective
   1. 1956–
      Chiefly with capital initial. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Zealots or Zealotism. Cf. zealot n. A.2, zealotism n. 2.
      1. 1956

         > The Slavic translation of the Jewish historiographer Josephus..presents Jesus' movement as Zealotist.

         O. Cullmann, State in New Testament ii. 49
      2. 1998

         > The references adduced to Zealotist tendencies on the part of James the Zebedee and Peter..involve exclusively pre-Easter situations.

         D. Stott, translation of R. Riesner, Paul's Early Period 123
      3. 2013

         > He..refers to those who wish to make Jesus a Zealotist revolutionary.

         C. van Wyngaard in M. A. Plaatjies-Van Huffel & R. Vosloo, Reformed Churches in South Africa xviii. 271
      historical

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɛlətɪst/
ZEL-uh-tist

### U.S. English

/ˈzɛlədəst/
ZEL-uh-duhst

####

##### 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–1600s; 1800s–
   zelotist
2. 1900s–
   zealotist

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

zealotist, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.

zealotist, n. & adj. was last modified in September 2024.