Forms: [4], 6–7 zelote, 4–8 zelot, 7 zelott, 6– zealot. [ad. eccl. L. zēlōtēs, a. Gr. ζηλωτής, f. ζηλοῦν to be zealous (see ZEAL v.).]
1. A member of a Jewish sect which aimed at a Jewish theocracy over the earth and fiercely resisted the Romans until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
[a. 1300. Cursor M., 21165. Symon zelote.]
1537. [Coverdale], Orig. & Sprynge of Sectes, 55. Zelotes or Gelous secte. These were suttyll and sedicious rascals amonge the Iewes of Ierusalem.
1644. Hammond (title), Of Resisting the Lawfull Magistrate under colour of Religion…. Also, Or the Zelots among the Jewes.
1671. Stillingfl., Serm., Matt. xxi. 33, Wks. 1710, I. 107. That desperate Faction of the Zealots, who … soon put the whole Nation into Flames.
1831. E. Burton, Eccl. Hist., i. 11. The persons who were called Zealots, from their zeal for the national religion and independence.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., II. 111, note. The Zealots formed the ‘extreme left’ division of the Pharisees politically, as the Essenes did religiously.
2. One who is zealous or full of zeal; one who pursues his object with passionate ardor; usually in disparaging sense, one who is carried away by excess of zeal; an immoderate partisan, a fanatical enthusiast. Const. for, † of, † to.
a. 1638. Mede, Diatribæ, lii. Wks. I. (1672), 300. The true Zealot whom God approveth, namely, He whose Spirit is in Fervency and not in Shew.
1651. Howell, Venice, 5. Though they continue still such great Zelotts to their own Country … they are not so to the Church.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1838), 25/1. The more religious zealots, who afterward were branded with the name of Puritan.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Zelot … is often taken in an ill Sense, for a Separatist or Schismatick, a Fanatick.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 445, ¶ 6. The insignificant Party Zealots on both sides.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 11, ¶ 3. Slavery is now no where more patiently endured than in countries once inhabited by the zealots of liberty.
1779. Burke, Letr. to J. Erskine, April. I do not aspire to the glory of being a zealot for any particular national Church.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., I. iii. 168. The queen [sc. Elizabeth] was as a mark for the pistol or dagger of every zealot.
1851. Househ. Words, III. 386/2. A horde of Methodists, Baptists, Campbellites, and other burning zealots.
1892. Meredith, Lett. (1912), II. 448. They are both zealots of the rod [i.e., keen anglers].
3. attrib. or as adj. That is a zealot; characteristic of a zealot.
1670. Perwich, Desp. (1903), 73. The old zelot Cardlls have made a great noyse, being much offended.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 322. Our gentleman by these expressions had already given considerable offence to his zealot-auditors.
1713. Guardian, No. 93, ¶ 10. I would not willingly lie at a zealot papist’s mercy.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 262. It was not likely that at Rome there should be any of that zealot fanaticism which held it unlawful for a Jew to recognise any other earthly ruler besides God.
