A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1537-1649
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Zel(o)us, -ois, adj.1 Also: zelouse, -ios, zeal(o)us. [e.m.E. zelous (1526), zealous (1594), med. L. zelosus.] Full of zeal, devoted to a cause, person, etc. b. Of an action, emotion, etc. c. Const. for, in, to a cause, etc., also const. infin.(1) a1538 Abell 12*a.
Zelois Icu rang in Israel … Zelois Machabei faucht for the law of God. Zelois Kyng Vngary wes a monk. Zelois Crystyn men wan the Halyland a1538 Abell 96a.
Nobill & zelios Wilȝem Wallace wes betrasit a1570-86 Maitland in Maitland Folio MS 305/28.
O Lord quhair ar thais zelous men That in this land hes bene 1573 Davidson in Satirical Poems xl Pref. p. 277.
Ane zelous professour of Goddis word … and lufer of his seruandis 1587 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV 17.
Certane zelous and godlie personis, inhabitants of the said burgh c1590 J. Stewart 4.
Vith maist zelus and humyle hart(b) c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 14.
Humblie exhorting euerie creature … To take … my sayings in gude part, Sen I do write thame of ane zealus hart 1585 Misc. Bann. C. I 123.
The greit greiff and grudge off the ministrie and all other godlie and zealous servants off God 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 37.
The zealous sisters suld remark how God execut his vengeance agains … Eua and Marie [= Miriam] … for melling thame selfis with maters of religion(2) 1584 Melvill 182.
Day by day mair and mair zealus and devot in spreit, familiar with his God [etc.]b. c1565 Lennox Mun. 448.
What zelouse naturall care your maiesti hath of owr swete and peerles juell 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 175.
That … his zelous deid may instigat vtheris … to dote and gif thair buikis to the lyke vse 1596 Melvill 520.
A zealous affectioun to your majestie's welfairc. (1) 1583 Melvill 161.
The best nobilitie & peires of the land, the frakest and maist zealus in relligion 1600-1610 Melvill 26.
Maisters and schollars war sound and zelus for the guid cause 1649 Hist. Fragm. II 88.
I found my lord more zelus to the obedience of the king's commandes(2) 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlix.
All men … that ar zealous to haif thair native cuntre remane still in the stait of a kingdome
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"Zelus adj.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/zelous_adj_1>
