Middle English Dictionary Entry
zēl(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | zēl(e n. Also sele. |
| Etymology | OF zele, zel & L zēlus; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Enthusiastic striving toward an objective, fervent commitment or resolve to obtain a result or to pursue a course of action; also, a resolve; an ardent desire or earnest intention; also, enthusiasm;
(b) devotion (to sth.);
(c) ardent affection; also, fervent good will;
(d) a strong emotion, esp. one of wrath or jealousy; also, passion.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3076 : Alle…Be-gan…to preyse…His feruent zel and his hardines.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3168 : With zel of feith I brenne as doth þe glede, Of alle harmys to bidden ȝow be war.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1859 : O moral Gower, this book I directe To the and to the, philosophical Strode, To vouchen sauf, ther nede is, to correcte, Of youre benignites and zeles goode.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)282/18 : Her owne defautis wiþdrawiþ fro hemsilf booldnesse for to vndirnyme oþire and also þe holy zele of riȝtwiisnesse.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)186/6 : Dowtyr, þu hast a good zele of charite in þat þu woldist alle men wer sauyd.
- (1442) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23252 : Grete zele…holy faders have had to socoure the sowles of there subgects, [etc.].
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)103/26-7, 104/1 : Anoþer zele is to venge þe wronge of God, þat is to sey synne, And wiþ siche a zele…Moises venged ydolatrie…and Finees fornicacion…Anoþer is zele of discipline, by wich riȝtwis men haþ indignacion to synners.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)240/12 : Who-so-euer haȝ…desyre wyth gud seele in doynge what he may to true conuersyon of other, [etc.].
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)65/10 : Gilberd…had…so grete zel to lede soules to heuene.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)19/1 : I counseyle þe to haue a zele and a loue forto seye hem dystynctly.
- c1475(c1447) Epitaph Duke Glo.(Hrl 2251)75 : Neuer man had more zele, as I vndrestond, Ne redyer to redresse alle transgressis by and by.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)141/16 : Þei may haue a lyst and a zele to stody and to lerne.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.349 : Goddis angyl…kepith my body with gret zel þat no man schal defylyn me.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)522/18 : Calixt þe Third…was…an olde man…wherfore he might nat performe his zele & desire þat he had conceyved Agenst þe Turke.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)20/7 : Holy fadres in deserte…hov gret zele & feruour had þey to spiritual profityng!
b
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)81/29 : Lorde, þou knowist þat for zele to þi trouþe…y seie hem with schame.
- a1500 Chartier Dial.F.&F.(Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)4/21 : A man…had a grete zele to the comon wele.
c
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)103/20 : Gode zele is somtyme ytake for spousale luffyng.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)171/1 : Crist…for þe gret zele and loue of man, shewed hym-selfe…as a pore childe.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)157/32 : No sacrifys plesiþ more god þan zele and luf of soulles.
- (1464) RParl.5.548b : The Kyng…of grete zele and tendre affection which he hath unto his entierly welbiloved suster Anne…graunteth…that all his…Grauntes…be to hir self oonly available.
- (1466) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.120 : Goode and faythefull seruice and zele…Piers hath…schewyd toward vs as well to oure Ambassatours.
- c1480(1462) Benev.Edw.IV (Add 48031)136 : They .. wol at this tyme in this grete and moost urgent necessite shewe effectuelly .. thaire good willis, zele and affeccion that they bere unto us, to the comune weele of this lande, and prosperite of thayme selfe.
- a1500(1447-50) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)97 : Squier Thomas Burneby…for the greet zele, love, and affeccion that he hath unto your personne…desireth…to do yow worship by wey of marriage.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)43/10 : Haue þerfore first zeel to þiself, & þan maist þou haue zeel to þi neiȝbore.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.25.11 : Y me self dede nouȝt awey þe sonys of Irael in my zele [alt. to: jeloustee; WB(2): greet hete ether strong veniaunce; vrr. feruentnesse, feruentnesse of veniaunce].
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.8.3 : The idol of zele or enuye was set for to styre enuye.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)104/11,13 : Somtyme zele is putte for enuy…also somtyme…for ire…: Wer…is zele and contencion…þer is vnstedfastenes and all schrewed werke.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)14/32 : Ȝyf þou..comytte thyself to me wyth swych zeel [L dileccione] þat that thyng I wyl not and forbede the.
Note: Additional quote(s) for sense (b). Cf. DMLBS dileccione, a form of LL dilectio, 'love', 'love of God', 'devotion'.