zelo-, zel-; zeal-

(Greek > Latin: ardor, fervor; jealousy, jealous)

Etymologically, jealousy and zeal came from the same source. Both originally came from Greek zelos. This passed into post-classical Latin as zelus, which later produced the adjective zelosus. Old French incorporated this as gelos or jelous and passed it on to English.

The Greek word denoted "jealousy" and "fervor, enthusiasm", and it is this strand of meaning that has come down to us as jealous. Jalousie was the French equivalent of jealousy. Most of the words that became distinctive terms for "jealousy" were originally used in a good sense of "zeal" and "emulation".

zelator (s), zelators (pl) (noun forms)
1. Someone who is zealous in support or futherance of a cause or movement.
2. A sister in a convent in charge of checking on conduct of other nuns.
zelophilia (s) (noun)
A sexual arousal that is based on jealousy arising from feelings of envy, etc.
zelophobia (s) (noun), zelophobias (pl)
An irrational dread of jealousy: When Adam was having a great deal of contacts with several women at a social affair, he had a zelophobia that his wife might be upset with him for spending so much time with them and not with her.
zelotic, zealotic
Of the nature of a zealot.
zelotism, zealotism
Action, thought, or feeling characteristic of a zealot; zealotry.
zelotypia (s), zelotypias (pl) (noun forms)
1. An insane or excessive jealousy.
2. An excessive zeal or a passionate pursuit of a cause, to the point of causing illness.
3. Excessive zeal, carried to the point of morbidity, in the advocacy of any cause.
4. A morbid perseverance and energy in working on a project; especially, a political or religious activity.

A form of monomania sometimes manifesting itself in over zeal in attempts to gain supporters to some public cause.

5. Etymology: from Greek zelotypia, "rivalry, envy"; from zelos, "zeal", + typto, "to strike". If you put the two words together, you get "strike (with) zeal".
zelotypist (s), zelotypists (pl) (noun forms)
Someone who is characterized, or marked, by excessive zeal that is carried to the verge of insanity, in the advocacy of some cause.

Related religious-word units: church; dei-, div-; ecclesi-; fanati-; hiero-; idol-; -olatry; theo-.