ardent means full of ardor; expressing passion, spirit, or enthusiasm. It carries an Arena rating of 1694, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, ardent ranks #406 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #658 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #3,333 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #3,920 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words.
ardent is pronounced /ˈɑːdənt/.
Why “ardent” is a great word
Characterized by intense warmth of feeling, passion, or enthusiasm. From Middle English *ardaunt* (c. 14th century), borrowed from Anglo-Norman *ardent* and Old French *ardant*, from Latin *ardentem*, accusative of *ardēns* ("burning"), present participle of *ardēre* ("to burn"). Unlike "fervent," which implies a steady, sustained depth, or "enthusiastic," which suggests a lighter eagerness, ardent conveys a fiery, outward, and consuming quality. It is the blush on a lover's cheek, the unwavering focus in a revolutionary's eye, the fierce, protective glow of a hearth on a winter night—a word for the kind of devotion that, by its nature, risks consuming its own fuel.
Etymology
First attested circa 14th century as Middle English ardaunt, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ardent and Old French ardant, from Latin ardentem, accusative of ardēns, present participle of ardeō (“to burn”).
adj
- Full of ardor; expressing passion, spirit, or enthusiasm.e.g.“This ardent exploration, absorbing all his energy and interest, made him forget for the moment the mystery of his heritage and the anomaly that cut him off from all his fellows.” — 1956, Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, page 43:
- Providing light or heat.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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