A member of an ancient Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and who killed or persecuted Jews who collaborated with the Romans.

Dutch: zeloot, fanatiekeling
Polish: zelota

A fervent and even militant proponent of something.

synonyms: drumbeater, partisan.

Roget 606: obstinateness etc. adj.; obstinacy, tenacity; cussedness [U.S.]; perseverance etc. 604.1; immovability; old school; inflexibility etc. (hardness) 323; obduracy, obduration^†; dogged resolution; resolution etc. 604; ruling passion; blind side.    self-will, contumacy, perversity; pervicacy^†, pervicacity^†; indocility^†.    bigotry, intolerance, dogmatism; opiniatry^†, opiniativeness; fixed idea etc. (prejudgment) 481; fanaticism, zealotry, infatuation, monomania; opinionatedness opinionativeness^†.    mule; opinionist^†, opinionatist^†, opiniator^†, opinator^†; stickler, dogmatist; bigot; zealot, enthusiast, fanatic.    ... show more

Roget 682: activity; briskness, liveliness etc. adj.; animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy; snap, vim.    nimbleness, agility; smartness, quickness etc. adj.; velocity, etc. 274; alacrity, promptitude; despatch, dispatch; expedition; haste etc. 684; punctuality etc. (early) 132.    eagerness, zeal, ardor, perfervidum aingenium [Lat.], empressement [Fr.], earnestness, intentness; abandon; vigor etc. (physical energy) 171; devotion etc. (resolution) 604; exertion etc. 686.    industry, assiduity; assiduousness etc. adj.; sedulity; laboriousness; drudgery etc. (labor) 686; painstaking, diligence; perseverance etc. 604.1; indefatigation^†; habits of business.    vigilance etc. 459; wakefulness; sleeplessness, restlessness; insomnia; pervigilium^†, insomnium^†; racketing.    movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness; flurry etc. (haste) 684.    officiousness; dabbling, meddling; interference, interposition, intermeddling; tampering with, intrigue.    press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action.    housewife, busy bee; new brooms; sharp fellow, sharp blade; devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank^†; hummer, hustler, live man [U.S.], rustler [U.S.].    ... show more