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Zealots

 - 4 dictionary results

zeal⋅ot

  [zel-uht]
Use Zealots in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who shows zeal.
2. an excessively zealous person; fanatic.
3. (initial capital letter) a member of a radical, warlike, ardently patriotic group of Jews in Judea, particularly prominent from a.d. 69 to 81, advocating the violent overthrow of Roman rule and vigorously resisting the efforts of the Romans and their supporters to heathenize the Jews.
Origin:
1530–40; earlier zelote < LL zēlōtēs < Gk zēltēs, equiv. to zēlō- (var. s. of zēloûn to be zealous; see zeal ) + -tēs agent suffix

Synonyms:
2. extremist, crank, bigot. See fanatic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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zeal·ot   (zěl'ət)   
n.  

    1. One who is zealous, especially excessively so.

    2. A fanatically committed person.

  2. Zealot A member of a Jewish movement of the first century A.D. that fought against Roman rule in Palestine as incompatible with strict monotheism.


[Middle English zelote, from Latin zēlōtēs, from Greek, from zēlos, zeal.]
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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Word Origin & History

zealot 
c.1300, "member of a militant 1st century Jewish sect which fiercely resisted the Romans in Palestine," from L.L. Zelotes, from Gk. zelotes "one who is a zealous follower," from zeloun "to be zealous," from zelos "zeal" (see zeal). Extended sense of "a fanatical enthusiast" first recorded 1638.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Zealots

a sect of Jews which originated with Judas the Gaulonite (Acts 5:37). They refused to pay tribute to the Romans, on the ground that this was a violation of the principle that God was the only king of Israel. They rebelled against the Romans, but were soon scattered, and became a lawless band of mere brigands. They were afterwards called Sicarii, from their use of the sica, i.e., the Roman dagger.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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