E 0493          JEALOUS,  ZEAL The word " jealous " is, via Old French and Late Latin, of Greek origin . The word " zeal " is, via Late Latin, of Greek origin . H 0884            ל א ש Concept of root : demanding wish Hebrew word pronunciation English meanings ל א ש sha’al to ask, desire Related English words zeal, jealousy , both from Greek Comparison between European words and Hebrew Languages Words Pronunciation English meanings Similarity in roots Hebrew ל א ש sha’al to ask, desire sh . (‘) . l Greek ζηλος zèlos desire, zeal, jealousy z . l Russian желать zjelatj to desire, wish zj . l English jealous ; zeal jealous ; zeal j . l ; z . l     Proto-Semitic *SHA'AL --- *ZĂL-, *ZĒL- Indo-European     The readers who know modern Hebrew, will be aware that the meaning today of "sha’al" is only "to ask" in all senses. But the Biblical meaning was as well, and perhaps principally, that of "to desire" and the asking was demanding. And this corresponds with Russian "zjelatj".   The difference remains that the Aleph, the interrupting of the flow of sound in order to begin with a fresh vowel, is not present in Russian, that does not know this way of speaking.     Note: Proto-Semitic. This root is found in Aramaic and Syriac "ש א ל , she'al = to ask". Ugaritic used the same root for the same meaning. Akkadian "sha'ālu = to ask". Then there are cognates with intial "S" instead of "SH" in Arabic and Ethiopian "sa'ala = he asked, enquired". The root with " SH " was probably in use in Proto-Semitic: "*ש א ל , SH Aleph L".   Note: English and Greek. We must well distinguish the various meanings of this root . The message of the related English word "jealous", indirectly derived from Greek "ζηλος , zèlos", was present in Greek but not in Hebrew . Greek zèlos was used to express both "desire", "zeal" and "jealousy", with "desire" perhaps as the original meaning, that already in classical times had nearly been eliminated in favour of "zeal" that was joined by "jealousy".   Note: Greek "zèlos" has penetrated in many languages with both meanings, that of "zeal, zelot" and that of "jealous".   Note: Greek scholars see for "zèlos" an older version "*djalos", which brings it nearer to Russian. In fact probably an original "zjalos" would be not impossible, but , moving a bit in the realm of guessing, "*zalos" more probable.   Note: Indo-European. In other groups one sees little further information. In particular a combination similar to "Z/ZJ . L" is hard do find. Greek and Russian remain the basis for a hypothesis of "*Z Ē L-". Still also a form "*Z Ā L-" can be supposed.   Avestan in "izyati = to desire" and "aēza-; aēzah- = desiring; desire" has a "Z" but no "L".   Tokharian "yśaläm = concupiscence" but also "sexual pleasure" may be related and has a combination "S L".