fervid

fervent, fervid

Both words mean ‘ardent, intense’ with reference to speech, feelings, etc. There are two significant differences in their use: (1) fervent but not fervid is also used of people, with nouns such as admirer, advocate, believer, follower, opponent, and supporter among the typical collocates, and (2) fervent has positive connotations whereas fervid can sound depreciatory, rather like the difference between warm and feverish as applied to feelings. Examples: (fervent)

• Every available wall space was covered with graffiti and fervent slogans —T. Strong, 1990

• I make those criticisms as a fervent admirer of the army —Sunday Times, 2005

• I'm 45 and was hoping fervently that the Government might make menopause illegal before it engulfed me —Express, 2007

• (fervid) While a fervid interest in sex overpowered other girls, she listened to their confidences unmoved —C. Brayfield, 1990

• I'm afraid your rather fervid imagination is running away with you —E. Rees, 1992.

Fervidly is not typical but is occasionally found

• (those within America who are fervidly anti-Bush —weblog, AmE 2004).