Save Gender Masculine Usage English (African, Rare) Pronounced Pron. ZEHL-əs(African English) [key·IPA] Other Forms FormsZelous Meaning & History From the English word zealous meaning "full of zeal, ardent", perhaps intended to be an English form of Zelotes. This was the name of a Union general in the American Civil War: Zealous Bates Tower (1819-1900).