fervent

Adjective

fervent (comparative more fervent, superlative most fervent)

1. Very hot; burning, scorching; also, glowing with heat.
   • Lo here hath euery fayth[f]ull man a ſure promiſe, yͭ in the feruent heate of tentacion or tribulacion […] God gyueth the faythful man yͭ hopeth in him, yͭ ſhadow of hys holy ſhoulders, which are brode ⁊ large, ſufficient to refrigerate ⁊ refreſhe the man in that heate, and in euerye trybulacion he...1534 (date written; published 1553), Thomas More, “A Dyalogue of Comforte agaynste Tribulacyon, […]. A Special Comfort in Al Temptacion.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The...
   • But the day of the Lord wil come as a thiefe in the night; in the which the heauens ſhall paſſe away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with feruent heate, the earth alſo and the works that are therin ſhalbe burnt vp.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Peter 3:10, signature [Y6], recto, column 2

   Synonyms:

   fervid

2. (obsolete) Of cold: intense, severe.
   • [A] feruent colde countrey, vnder whiche a colde ſeaſon ſhulde be comprehended, whiche alſo letteth bloud lettyng: for in a countrey and ſeaſon very colde, the blud is cloſed in the depeſt partis of the body, and the bloud that tarieth in the vtter partis, the colde makethe thycke, whiche to voide...1528, [Joannes de Mediolano, Arnaldus de Villa Nova], translated by Thomas Paynell, Regimen Sanitatis Salerni. […] [Governance of Hygiene of Salerno], London: […] Tho. Bertheleti [Thomas Berthelet]...
3. (historical, obsolete, pharmacy) Of a drug: having an abundance of heat as one of the four qualities believed to be characteristic of all things; hot rather than cold, dry, or moist.
   • The common Camomill is of complexion hoate and dry, and not ſo feruent as the Romaine Camomill, but more pleaſant and gentill.1578, Rembert Dodoens, “Of Wilde or Common Camomill”, in Henry Lyte, transl., A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes: […], London: […] [Henry [i.e., Hendrik van der] Loë for] Gerard Dewes, […]...
4. (figuratively) Of a person, or their actions, interests, or nature: exhibiting persistent belief or conviction, and enthusiasm or zeal; ardent, earnest, passionate.
   • Butt above all thyngꝭ [thynges, i.e., things] have fervent love a monge you. For love covereth the multitude of ſines.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Fyrst Pistle off S. Peter the Apostle iiij:[8], folio ccxc, recto
   • Two thinges haue mooued me (moſt noble Princeſſe) hauing newly tranſlated into Engliſh this Herball or Hiſtorie of Plantes […] The other was, that earneſt zeale, and feruent deſire that I haue, and a long time haue had, to ſhewe my ſelfe (by yeelding ſome fruite of paineful diligēce [diligence]) a...1578 January 11 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Henry Lyte, “To the Most High, Noble, and Renowmed Princesse, our Most Dread Redoubted Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queene of...

   Synonyms:

   animated, ardent, avid, big [⇒ thesaurus] [on], bubbly, eager, earnest, ebullient, energetic, enthusiastic

   Antonyms:

   adiaphroistic, apathetic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, deaf, cool, shiftless, dispassionate, dull

5. (archaic, figuratively) Of a thing such as a battle, unrest, etc.: intense, severe; also, of a wild animal: fierce.
   • When the battel is hotteſt ⁊ in al places moſt fierce ⁊ feruent, a bende of choſen and picked yong men, which be ſworne to liue ⁊ dye togethers, take vpon them to deſtroye theire aduerſaries capitaine, hym they inuade now with preuy wyeles, now by opē [open] ſtrength.1551, Thomas More, “The Second Boke of the Communycacion of Raphael Hythlodaye, Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe: Cõteynyng the Discription of Utopia, with a Large Declaration of the...
   • [T]here appeared vnto th^ẽ [them] a bore of a monſtrous ſhape, vvonderfull fat, vvith horrible haire, a skin ſet vvith ſtanding briſtles, rough vpon the back, & his mouth continually foaming out aboundance of froath, & the ſound of his gnaſhing teeth ringing like the ratling of armor; hauing...1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Swine in Generall”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 741