0
Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

fervent/avid

Hello,
What is the difference between "Carl is a fervent/ardent supporter of the arts."? The dictionary definitions are more or less the same. It is a silly question, an easy one, so I am truly sorry. Fervent strikes me as stronger/more passionate.
  

Top answer

Gene93 The dictionary definitions are more or less the same. I agree. Gene93 It is a silly question, an easy one No.

— Mister Micawber

  • Gene93 The dictionary definitions are more or less the same.
  • I agree.
  • Gene93 It is a silly question, an easy one No.
  • Gene93 Fervent strikes me as stronger/more passionate.
  • And me, also.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
Gene93The dictionary definitions are more or less the same.
I agree.
Gene93It is a silly question, an easy one
No.
Gene93Fervent strikes me as stronger/more passionate.
And me, also. But perhaps only slightly so. I think you have a good understanding of these words
0
0
The basic difference I see is the frequency of their use, ardent probably being much more common, at least in AmEng. [ I haven't done a Google count, though. ] When it comes down to it, I think that avid is the most common. (I'm wondering why you changed the choices - one pair in the title line, another pair in the text. Was it to confuse us? It certainly confused me.)
0
0
Philip (I'm wondering why you changed the choices - one pair in the title line, another pair in the text. Was it to confuse us? It certainly confused me.)
I didn't even notice.
According to the Google ngram, their use is converging dramatically:
0
0
No, I didn't mean to confuse you. It was a mistake, I am sorry Emotion: sad. It is fervent (least common)>ardent>avid (most common). What is
0
0
I think the main difference is the frequency of uses. A Google search might give you what you want to know.
0
0
Google says that ardent is most common and avid is least common. How can that be true?
0
0
Gene93Google says that ardent is most common and avid is least common. How can that be true?
Because most people use 'ardent' , fewer use 'fervent' and fewer still use 'avid'.
0
0
Is that supposed to offend me? .The reason I said that is the fact that most of the natives I know, usually use avid most frequently and they hardly ever use ardent and fervent.
0
0
fivejedjonBecause most people use 'ardent' , fewer use 'fervent' and fewer still use 'avid'.
Wow! I'm really in the minority here! Nor sure I've ever used 'ardent', and I'm sure I've never used 'fervent'.
0

Related Questions