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Ardor - 4 dictionary results

ar⋅dor

  [ahr-der]
Use Ardor in a Sentence
–noun
1. great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion: She spoke persuasively and with ardor.
2. intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal: his well-known ardor for Chinese art.
3. burning heat.
Also, especially British, ardour.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L, equiv. to ārd(ēre) to burn + -or -or 1 ; r. ME ardure < OF ardur < L, as above; 17th century ardour < AF < L, as above

Synonyms:
1. fervency, spirit, earnestness, intensity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ar·dor   (är'dər)   
n.  
  1. Fiery intensity of feeling. See Synonyms at passion.
  2. Strong enthusiasm or devotion; zeal: "The dazzling conquest of Mexico gave a new impulse to the ardor of discovery" (William Hickling Prescott).
  3. Intense heat or glow, as of fire.

[Middle English ardour, from Old French, from Latin ārdor, from ārdēre, to burn; see as- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Ardor

Ar"dor\, n. [L. ardor, fr. ardere to burn: cf. OF. ardor, ardur, F. ardeur.] [Spelt also ardour.]

1. Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays.

2. Warmth or heat of passion or affection; eagerness; zeal; as, he pursues study with ardor; the fought with ardor; martial ardor.

3. pl. Bright and effulgent spirits; seraphim. [Thus used by Milton.]

Syn: Fervor; warmth; eagerness. See Fervor.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Ardor
Spanish: ardor,
German: die Begeisterung,
Japanese: 熱情
More Translations »

ardor 
c.1386, "heat of passion or desire," from O.Fr. ardour, from L. ardorem (nom. ardor) "a flame, fire," from ardere "to burn" (see ardent). In M.E., used of base passions; since Milton's time, of noble ones.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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