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5 dictionary results for: Ardent
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ar·dent 
[ahr-dnt] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[ahr-dnt] Pronunciation Key –adjective
| 1. | having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent: an ardent vow; ardent love. |
| 2. | intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous: an ardent theatergoer. an ardent student of French history. |
| 3. | vehement; fierce: They were frightened by his ardent, burning eyes. |
| 4. | burning, fiery, or hot: the ardent core of a star. |
[Origin: 1325–75; < L ārdent- (s. of ārdéns, prp. of ārdére to burn), equiv. to ārd- burn + -ent- -ent; r. ME ardant < MF]
] —Related forms
ar·dent·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. fervid, eager, impassioned. 2. avid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| ar·dent
(är'dnt) Pronunciation Key
adj.
[Middle English ardaunt, from Old French ardant, from Latin ārdēns, ārdent-, present participle of ārdēre, to burn; see as- in Indo-European roots.] ar'den·cy (-dn-sē) n., ar'dent·ly adv. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ardent
ardent
c.1374, from O.Fr. ardant, from L. ardentem (nom. ardens), prp. of ardere "to burn," from PIE base *as- "to burn, glow" (cf. Skt. asah "ashes, dust," Arm. azazem "I dry up," Gk. azein "to dry up, parch," Goth. azgo, O.E. æsce "ashes," L. ardus "parched, dry"). The fig. sense (of passions, desire, etc.) was earliest in Eng.; literal sense of "burning, parching" (c.1440) remains rare. Ardent spirits (1471) "strong alcoholic liquor" so called because they are inflammable, but the term now, if used at all, probably is felt in the fig. sense.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| ardent | |
adjective | |
| 1. | characterized by intense emotion; "ardent love"; "an ardent lover"; "a fervent desire to change society"; "a fervent admirer"; "fiery oratory"; "an impassioned appeal"; "a torrid love affair" |
| 2. | characterized by strong enthusiasm; "ardent revolutionaries"; "warm support" |
| 3. | glowing or shining like fire; "from rank to rank she darts her ardent eyes"- Alexander Pope; "frightened by his ardent burning eyes" |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Ardent
Ar"dent\, a. [OE. ardaunt, F. ardant, p. pr. of arder to burn, fr. L. ardere.]1. Hot or burning; causing a sensation of burning; fiery; as, ardent spirits, that is, distilled liquors; an ardent fever. 2. Having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce; glowing; shining; as, ardent eyes. --Dryden. 3. Warm, applied to the passions and affections; passionate; fervent; zealous; vehement; as, ardent love, feelings, zeal, hope, temper. An ardent and impetuous race. --Macaulay. Syn: Burning; hot; fiery; glowing; intense; fierce; vehement; eager; zealous; keen; fervid; fervent; passionate; affectionate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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