Ried Rants

RR170 Word of the Week: Zealot
To me this word sounds like some sort of vegetable…like Brussels sprouts (yeah, it’s plural).
But zealot is another thing entirely; a not so good thing. More not so good than Brussels sprouts.

Zealot
Cambridge: a person who has very strong opinions about something, and tries to make other people have them too
Zeal: great enthusiasm or interest
Overzealous: too enthusiastic and eager
Oxford English: A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
historical A member of an ancient Jewish sect aiming at a world Jewish theocracy and resisting the Romans until AD 70.
Zeal: Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.
Overzealous: Too zealous in one’s attitude or behaviour.
Etymology: early 14c., “member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine,” from Late Latin zelotes, from Greek zēlōtēs “one who is a zealous follower,” from zēloōn “to be zealous,” from zēlos “zeal” (see zeal). Extended sense of “a fanatical enthusiast” first recorded 1630s (earlier in this sense was zelator, mid-15c.).

Synonyms: activist, diehard, extremist, fanatic, maniac, militant, nut, radical, fiend
Antonyms: conservative, moderate

It would seem that this word has a decidedly negative connotation, as does overzealous. Hmm, maybe it would be good to reconsider my use of the word overzealous.

Research and Links
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/zealot
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/zealot
https://www.etymonline.com/word/zealot
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/zeal
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/zeal
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/overzealous
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/92175/can-zealot-have-a-positive-connotation

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