Ardor

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɑːdə/

Definitions

1. Enthusiastic and intense devotion or passion toward something or someone
2. A deep emotional warmth characterized by passionate zeal and intense devotion toward an individual, interest, or cause
3. A strong, energetic feeling of eagerness or intense love for a person, idea, or activity

Etymology: The Latin root of this word, "ardere," meant simply "to burn," and the Romans used "ardor" for a literal blaze before it ever described a feeling. The noun was built on that same verb, so a fire and a fervent emotion were, from the start, one word. Its path into English ran through the Anglo-Norman and Old French "ardur," which carried the Latin sense of heat into Middle English as "ardour" and "ardure." The English spelling "ardor," with the American -or ending, reflects the Latin form directly, while the British "ardour" kept the French-influenced shape that English used for centuries. Both spellings descend from the same burning image, which is still visible in the word's sense of intense, consuming passion.

Synonyms: passion, zeal, enthusiasm, fervor, intensity

Antonyms: apathy, indifference, disinterest, boredom, coldness