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having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent:
an ardent vow; ardent love.
intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous:
an ardent theatergoer. an ardent student of French history.
vehement; fierce:
They were frightened by his ardent, burning eyes.
burning, fiery, or hot:
the ardent core of a star.
Contemporary Examples

The pathetic dives and writhing on the field is a turn off to the most ardent American fan.
What Hillary Clinton Can Learn From Portugal, Costa Rica, and England in the World Cup Nathan Daschle June 30, 2014

“Eurozone Deal Leaves Britain Isolated” trumpets the Financial Times, for many years an ardent proponent of monetary union.
Niall Ferguson: Great Britain Saves Itself by Rejecting the EU Niall Ferguson December 9, 2011

The families of the Buffalo crash victims have been ardent advocates for the highest professional standards.
Sully’s New Air Safety Warning Josh Dzieza April 27, 2011

With ardent fans and a rabid media, it will become Palin-palooza.
Don’t Run Sarah! Mark McKinnon November 23, 2010

Here are some genre-busting King titles that may have slipped past all but the most ardent fans.
Remedial Reader: The Essential Stephen King Back List Jessica Ferri April 24, 2012

Historical Examples

The fact is that it takes many generations of ardent minds to accomplish what at first each thinks himself capable of doing alone.
Wood-Carving George Jack

The brave and ardent 84th, commanded by Willis, dashes to the front.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places Archibald Forbes

Do you say that ardent spirits, as they are commonly drank, do not produce these effects except in a very slight degree?
Select Temperance Tracts American Tract Society

This ship sent a boat, which took us on board the ardent, 64, which was then used as a prison-ship.
Ned Myers James Fenimore Cooper

Again: The total disuse of ardent spirits, on the part of parents, is the only plan of safety in bringing up their children.
Select Temperance Tracts American Tract Society

adjective
expressive of or characterized by intense desire or emotion; passionate: ardent love
intensely enthusiastic; eager: an ardent longing
glowing, flashing, or shining: ardent eyes
(rare) burning: an ardent fever
adj.

early 14c., of alcoholic distillates, brandy (ardent spirits), etc., from Old French ardant (13c.) “burning, hot; zealous,” from Latin ardentem (nominative ardens) “glowing, fiery, hot, ablaze,” also used figuratively of passions, present participle of ardere “to burn,” from PIE root *as- “to burn, glow” from PIE root *as- “to burn, glow” (cf. Old English æsce “ashes;” see ash (n.1)).

Ardent spirits (late 15c.) so called because they are inflammable, but the term now, if used at all, probably is felt in the figurative sense. The figurative sense (of “burning with” passions, desire, etc.) is from late 14c.; literal sense of “burning, parching” (c.1400) remains rare. Related: Ardently.