fervent

comparative more fervent · superlative most fervent

1. Very hot; burning, scorching; also, glowing with heat.

   Again my Thoughts to Thee [Jesus] aſpire / In fervent Flames of ſtrong Deſire.

   1739, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, “A Morning Dedication of Ourselves to Christ. From the German.”, in Hymns and Sacred Poems, London: […] William Strahan; and sold by James Hutton, […]; and at Mr. Bray’s, […], →OCLC, part II, stanza I, page 179

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   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 putteth hys ſhoulders for a defence betwene.

   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 Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, book II, page 1179, column 1

   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. obsoleteOf cold: intense, severe.

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   [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 is no wyſedome.

   Governance of Hygiene of Salerno

   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] […], published 1541, →OCLC, folio 106, recto

3. historicalobsoletepharmacyOf 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, […], →OCLC, 2nd part (Pleasant and Sweete Smelling Floures, Herbes and Seedes, and Suche Like), page 187

4. figurativelyOf a person, or their actions, interests, or nature: exhibiting persistent belief or conviction, and enthusiasm or zeal; ardent, earnest, passionate.

   He ſpide his foe vvith felonous intent, / And feruent eyes to his deſtruction bent.

   1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Virgils Gnat”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC, signature I2, recto

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   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 thankeful ſubiect to ſo vertuous a Soueraigne, ⁊ a fruitful member of ſo good a cõmon [common] Weale.

   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 Englande, Fraunce, and Irelande, Defendour of the Fayth, &c. […]”, in Rembert Dodoens, translated by Henry Lyte, A Niewe Herball, or Historie of Plantes: […], London: […] [Henry [i.e., Hendrik van der] Loë for] Gerard Dewes, […], published 1578, →OCLC, 1st part (Sundry Sortes of Herbes and Plantes)

   To mark the verven / Heart of a Beaſt, the very Pig, the Pig, / This very morning, as he vvas a roaſting, / Cry'd out his Eyes, and made a ſhovv, as he vvould / Ha' bit in tvvo the Spit; as he vvould ſay, / There ſhall no Roaſt-meat be this diſmal day.

   1633 (first performance), Ben Jonson, “A Tale of a Tub. A Comedy […]”, in The Works of Beniamin Jonson, […] (Third Folio), London: […] Thomas Hodgkin, for H[enry] Herringman, E. Brewster, T. Bassett, R[ichard] Chiswell, M. Wotton, G. Conyers, published 1692, →OCLC, Act III, scene ix, page 523, column 1

   [T]he marriage vovv […] is ſo ſtrict and avvfull a bond, that methinks they had need vvell vveigh every branch of it, ere they enter it; and by the ferventeſt praiers implore that God, vvho is the vvitneſs, to be their aſſiſtant too in its performance.

   1673, [Richard Allestree], “Sect[ion] I. Of Virgins.”, in The Ladies Calling. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theatre, →OCLC, part II, page 22

   [I]f he can ſupport the trouble, the pain and the damage chearfully, it proves the glovv of his kindneſs the ferventer, and conſequently heightens the obligation and the endearment to ſuch, as are ſenſible vvhat it is that ſupports him.

   a. 1775 (date written), Edward Search [pseudonym; Abraham Tucker], “Redemption”, in The Light of Nature Pursued. […], volume III, part II (Light of Nature and Gospel Blended), London: […] W. Oliver, […]; sold by T[homas] Payne and Son, […]; J[ohn] F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […]; T[homas] Cadell, […]; L[ockyer] Davis, […]; and E[dward] and C[harles] Dilly, […], published 1777, →OCLC, page 172

   Synonyms: animated, ardent, avid, big [⇒ thesaurus] [on], bubbly, eager, earnest, ebullient · Antonyms: adiaphroistic, apathetic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, deaf, cool, shiftless

5. archaicfigurativelyOf a thing such as a battle, unrest, etc.: intense, severe; also, of a wild animal: fierce.

   A moment ends the fervent din, / And all is hushed, without and within; […]

   1815, William Wordsworth, “Canto First”, in The White Doe of Rylstone; or The Fate of the Nortons. A Poem, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], by James Ballantyne and Co., […], →OCLC, page 5

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   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 Godly Gouernement, and of All the Good Lawes and Orders of the Same Ilande. Of Warfare.”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC, signature P.v., verso

   [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 fire-burning eies, a deſpitefull looke, a violent force, and euery vvay feruent: […]

   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