1. [n]  excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end; "he had an absolute zeal for litigation"
2. [n]  a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause); "they were imbued with a revolutionary ardor"; "he felt a kind of religious zeal"

1. \Zeal\ (z[=e]l), n. [F. z[`e]le; cf. Pg. & It. zelo, Sp.
   zelo, celo; from L. zelus, Gr. ?, probably akin to ? to boil.
   Cf. {Yeast}, {Jealous}.]
   1. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in
      favor of a person or cause; ardent and active interest;
      engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. ``Ambition varnished o'er
      with zeal.'' --Milton. ``Zeal, the blind conductor of the
      will.'' --Dryden. ``Zeal's never-dying fire.'' --Keble.
   
            I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but
            not according to knowledge.           --Rom. x. 2.
   
            A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to
            subvert with little care what shall be established.
                                                  --Johnson.
   
   2. A zealot. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
   
   

2. \Zeal\, v. i.
   To be zealous. [Obs. & R.] --Bacon.
   
   

an earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor. 7:11; 9:2), or ignorant and misdirected (Rom. 10:2; Phil. 3:6). As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18). It is sometimes ascribed to God (2 Kings 19:31; Isa. 9:7; 37:32; Ezek. 5:13).