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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.

Zele, Zeil(l, n. Also: zeile, zeall, zeale, zaill, zill; (yeil, yeal(l)e, yeald). [ME and e.m.E. zeel (Wyclif), zele (c1400), zeale (?1545), OF zel, F. zèle, L. zēlus.]For a note on the forms in ȝ and y see Z.

1. A person's ardent desire, what one longs for. ?1438 Alex. ii 2433.
Ask ȝour intent and ȝour zele [F. ce qu'il vous plaist]

2. Great affection or devotion, as felt for a person or persons in one's care or protection or by a person or persons for the protector, etc. 1450 Edinb. Chart. 71.
For the zele and affectioune that we have to the provest and communite 1552 Black Bk. Taymouth 193.
Me Colyne Campbell … grantis me to haue ressauit Duncane Makgregour … in my menteinance [gap] in all [gap] … just [gap] actionis [gap] insofar as I may of law and gude conscience. And … to haue [gap] forgevin [gap] the saidis Duncane [etc.] … the zeill of luf and gude conscience moving me to the samyn 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV ii 53.
Ȝit for the godly zeile and natural affectionne hir grace buir till hir realme 1573 Edinb. Test. II 363b.
Havand ane zele and fatherlie louf to his dochter Mariorie 1581 Edinb. Test. IX 195b.
In consideratioun of the faithfulnes & zele of George Hume my sone in law … to me my hous & barnes

3. Disposition, purpose, intent, will. Chiefly const. of (for) (ane) gude zele.(1) 1492–3 Acta Conc. I 272/1.
Johne Scot occupiit the said landis of gude ȝele be vertu of the said charter and sesing gevin to him be the said William Brovster 1533 Boece 306b.
He suld nocht consent to the flattery persuasioun of the pepill, quhilk had in use to constitute na thing ferme, nor of gude zele(b) 1513 Doug. iii Prol. 29.
Gentill curtas redaris of gude zeill 1533 Boece 139b.
The goddis war in vse oftymes assist to men of gude zeill a1538 Abell 126a.
Is thare ony … that of gude zeill will tak our Lord Jhesus part 1535 Stewart 39958.
Ane better king in no tyme mycht be fund … And his begynnyng had bene of gude zeill 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 532.
In-to gude part tak it weil; Sen I haue wrocht it of gude zeill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6512.
Dame ȝe say veritie Bot of gude zeill tell on how can that be? Scho said gude schir my counsall ȝe sall heir(c) a1578 Pitsc. I 14/29.
Men of guid zeall and conscience(d) 1564 Grey Friars 146.
For guid trew zaill and thankful suite done and to be done to us(e) 1531 Bell. Boece I 207.
Thus grew he ilk day more terribill and odius to his pepill, and governit the realme with na better yeil than he gat it(2) 1549 Compl. 27/18.
The cruel Inglis men that hes scurgit vs, hes nocht dune it of manhede or visdome, nor of ane gude zeil

4. Fervent devotion or intense ardour in pursuit of some end, chiefly const. of, (un)to, towart (against), justice, religion, God, etc. Also for, in, to, doing something. Also const. infin. or relative clause. Also without construction.(1) 1516 Reg. Privy S. I 442/1.
And this on na wis ȝe leyff undonn, as ȝe religious men luffis ȝour religioun, the zeile of justice and keping of your professioun c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ephes. iv 26 marg.
This angre and wraith was bot a weray zeill vnto the law of God 1528 Douglas Corr. 128.
Set for the zeill of justice, repressing and punising of tresspassouris and brekaris of the bordouris 1535 Acts II 342/1.
For the zeile and lufe his hienes beris to the Cristyn faith 1562-3 Winȝet I 53/2.
Blindit be feruent zele towart the Mosaical law 1573 Bann. Memor. 303.
Thame that for the zeale [Bann. Trans. 451, yeale] of God … left thair houssis [etc.] c1590 Fowler II 20/13.
An ardent desyre and zele of veritie 1596 Dalr. I 225/16.
The singular zeale of the haly religione, into this prince, his incredible pietie 1639 Spalding I 222.
Our zeall to his majesteis honor … moveth ws to receave thame ?1661 R. Baillie A Parallel of the Liturgy with the Mass-Book (1641) 77.
None of all the reformed churches have kythed more zeale against images 1677 Glasgow B. Rec. III 240.
Your cair and zaill to our poor(2) 1559–60 Misc. Hist. Soc. IX 97.
Bot only movit of the zeill that thay have for debatt of Goddis word and helping us out of sic thraldom 1567–8 Reg. Privy C. I 608.
Prepositioun being maid to the lordis of articles … of the greit zeale … borne be my lord regentis grace to the establissing of peace and justice 1581 Stirling Presb. 11.
Quhen greter zeall, diligence and sinciritie salbe tryit in the ministeris … in executing of disceplein 1582 Conv. Burghs I 143.
The gude zeill he beris to the aduancement of all sic thingis as may tend to the weilfair of the merchantt estaitt 1606 Elphinstone Chart. 176.
To kyith my zeall in the aduancement of your maiesteis seruice(3) 1572–3 Bann. Trans. 436.
Without feare of God, or yeale [Bann. Memor. 294, yeald] that his glorie and trew religione … suld remane amongis vs c1590 J. Stewart 220 § 80.
Furth I vent, Vith feruent zaill my interpryse till end 1617 Lett. to Jas. VI lxviii.
Your prencelie yealle and ernest desyre to liwe all heir at parfytte ordour 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 17.
One of them put me in mind of honest James Douy not only for his wisage but also for his zeall and ardeur he showed to have me converted … He seimed … to personate Mr. Douy not only in his wisage but also in his strickness and bigotry(4) a1510 Aberd. Univ. Rev. XXXVI 52.
Gode has randerit tile ws ylk dele Paradis throue womanys zeile a1538 Abell 57(bis)b.
Be zeill of gude Christin men he wes depriuat baith of his office and his eyn 1549 Compl. 6/31.
Al thir thingis befor rehersit, I beand summond be institutione of ane gude zeil hes tane ane temerare consait to present to ȝour nobil grace ane tracteit [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 154/22, 23.
It is ane grit difference (and the zeill appeir nevir sa gude) to do ony work expres aganis Goddis commandiment, be to do ane gude work of godlie zeill without command of God 1562-3 Winȝet I 13/13.
We speikand frelie in the cause of our God to His glore, and in feruent zele 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 750.
Thay … That hounger of thair saulis dois faill, And ȝarnis for fude with sa greit zeill c1590 Fowler I 119/31.
It weill besemeth me to kendle all my zeill And to my flight ioyne double wingis that I may more prewaill 1593 Acts IV 43/1.
To … elect ane … or ma personis of best habilitie, zeale and discretioun 1612 Prot. Bk. W. Leslie 17a/5.
Being mowit of Christian zeall and dewtie to accept the repentance of the said penetent 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas To the Reader i 14.
With humble zeale loe she presents her mite 1638 Henderson Serm. 388.
When there is a great work ado, then our zeal sall be key-cold

b. Ardent desire, fervent love or devotion directed to a person. Also in fig. context. 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 70.
Nane … sa weill did lufe Schir Commoun-weill, Nor vnto me bure sic ane feruent zeill c1590 J. Stewart 224 § 96.
Fair Veritie … raweishit vith inwart zaill and ioy … 'O villinglie,' sayis scho, ‘vill I imbrace That … monarck' c1590 Fowler I 178/11.
I pen your prayse quhome I with zeale adore c1590 Fowler I 196/4.
Whils your faire eyes wer summonds first of love And then my lookes the lybells of lyke zeale

5. A strong or powerful feeling, arising from particular circumstances.(a) a1561 Norvell Meroure 61a.
To know the sore sighes and fear Of my poore hart … Lord I thé pray To hear the voce, and zeill ardent Of my distres, my God and king(b) c1535 Lennox Mun. 348.
It dyd me mekill zill in my mynd [to get] tha wrytyngis