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ardour

 - 3 dictionary results

ar⋅dor

[ahr-der]
–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


1. fervency, spirit, earnestness, intensity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ar·dour   (är'dər)   
n.   Chiefly British
Variant of ardor.
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

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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