Word of the day · 24 August 2026
fervent
/ˈfɜːvənt/
adjective
Having or showing intense feeling or belief.
In a sentence
- A fervent crowd stayed through the rain for the final set.
- He wrote a fervent letter defending the local library.
- Her fervent belief in the project kept the team working late.
In an image
Origin
From Latin fervens, present participle of fervere (to boil, be hot).
History
Medieval English borrowed fervent for physical heat and for burning devotion. Religious writing kept the spiritual sense alive for centuries. Modern use covers passion in politics, art and personal causes. The boiling root still warns that fervent feeling can warm a room or scorch it.
Nearby words
ardent · passionate · zealous
Heat of conviction without needing a shout.