inflame
verbUS, UK /ɪnˈfleɪm/
Etymology
From Middle English inflammen, enflamen, enflaumen (“to set (something) on fire; to be on fire; (figurative) to enrage (someone); to become enraged; to incite (someone) to do evil; to inspire (someone); (medicine) to cause inflammation of (a body part)”), from Old French enflamer, enflammer (“to set (something) on fire, inflame; to be on fire; (figurative) to fuel (a debate, hatred, etc.)”) (modern French enflammer), from Latin inflammāre, the present active infinitive of inflammō (“to set (something) on fire, inflame; (figurative) to excite (someone)”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘into; to, towards’) + flammō (“to set (something) on fire; to be on fire; (figurative) to incite (someone)”) (from flamma (“flame, fire; (figurative) passion”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-, *bʰl̥g- (“to blaze, burn; to glow, shine; bright flame, fire”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). By surface analysis, in- (prefix meaning ‘into; to, towards’) + flame.
11 senses
- 1To set (someone or something) on fire; to cause (someone…
- 2To cause (something) to appear bright or red, as if on…
- 3To cause (the body or a body part) to feel abnormally or…
- 4To cause (someone, or their heart, mind, etc.) to feel…
- 5To excite or intensify (a feeling, such as an appetite…
- 6To cause (something intangible, such as a dispute or…
- 7To increase (the price or quantity of something).
- 8To burst into flames, to catch fire.
- 9Of a person's body or body part: to feel abnormally or…
- 10To become very hot.
- 11To feel strong desire or other feelings; to be…
1
To set (someone or something) on fire; to cause (someone or something) to burn, flame, or glow; to kindle.
- [Jesus, you] art the eternal Orator, vvhich both outvvardlie talkeſt to mankinde by thy Goſpel, and invvardlie in our harts inflameſt thy light vvhich is true confeſſion, faith, and comfort in thee: […]1579, Iohn Auenar [i.e., Johann Habermann], “A Praier against Desperation”, in Thomas Rogers, transl., The Enimie of Securitie or A Dailie Exercise of Godly Meditations, […], [London], →OCLC, page 281:
- Novv keep your holy vvord, go meet the French, / And from his holineſſe vſe all your povver / To ſtop their marches 'fore vve are enflam'd: / Our diſcontented Counties doe reuolt: / Our people quarrell vvith obedience, / Svvearing allegiance, and the loue of ſoule / To ſtranger-bloud, to forren Royalty; […]c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 18, column 1:
4 more examples
- [W]e ſhould haue made retreate, / By light of the inflamed fleet, vvith all the Greeks eſcheate; […][1611?], Homer, “The Eighth Booke of Homers Iliads”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC, page 114:
- It is reported by one of the Ancients, that in Part of Media, there are Eruptions of Flames out of Plaines; […] There be alſo ſome Blinde Fires, vnder Stone, vvhich flame not out, but Oile being povvred vpon them, they flame out. The Cauſe vvhereof is, for that it ſeemeth, the Fire is ſo choaked, as not able to remoue the Stone, it is Heat, rather than Flame; VVhich neuertheleſſe is ſufficient to Enflame the Oyle.1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “IV. Century. [Experiment Solitary, Touching Subterrany Fires.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 361, page 97:
- [T]he vvhole Kingdome vvas then enflamed vvith Bonefires of Gods Saints, there vvas Fire in the Center, Fire all about the Circũference [circumference], Fire at home, Fire abroad; Fire in her priuate Chamber, Fire all ouer the vvhole Kingdome; […]1631, Tho[mas] Heywood, “[La[dy] Elizabeth almost Burned in Her Bed]”, in Englands Elizabeth: Her Life and Trovbles, during Her Minoritie from the Cradle to the Crowne. […], London: […] Iohn Beale, for Philip Waterhovse; […], →OCLC, page 167:
- [T]hou [Jesus] on a ſoudaine inflamedſt the rude mynds of the Apoſtles vvith the fire of the holy Ghoſt; […]1664, Thomas of Kempis [i.e., Thomas à Kempis], “Of the Apostles Preaching, and Publishing the Most Holy Name of Our Sauiour Iesus Christ for Mans Saluation All the World ouer”, in Thomas Carre [pseudonym; Miles Pinkney], transl., Meditations and Prayers of the Life, Passion, Resvrrection and Ascension of Ovr Saviovr Iesvs Christ. […], Paris: […] V[erlet] dv Movtier, →OCLC, page 603:
2
Broadly To cause (something) to appear bright or red, as if on fire; to brighten, to redden.
- I vvill my ſelf conduct thee on thy VVay, / VVhen next the Southing Sun inflames the Day; / VVhen the dry Herbage thirſts for Devvs in vain, / And Sheep, in Shades, avoid the parching Plain.1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 138, lines 576–579:
- Even now we see the redness of the torches / Inflame the night to the eastward, and the clarions / Gasp (?) to us on the wind's wave.a. 1823 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Charles the First. A Fragment.”, in William Michael Rossetti, editor, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley: […], revised edition, volume II, London: E[dward] Moxon, Son, & Co., […], published 1870, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 376:
1 more example
- Along the perimeter road the police car approached, headlamps inflaming the afternoon sunlight.1979, J[ames] G[raham] Ballard, “Stark’s Zoo”, in The Unlimited Dream Company […], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, →ISBN, page 40:
3
Broadly To cause (the body or a body part) to feel abnormally or unusually hot; specifically (medicine), to cause inflammation, including abnormal heat, pain, redness, swelling, etc., in (the body or a body part).
- to inflame the eyes by overwork
- His lyver is al enflamed with drinkyng of hote wynes: […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio ccxxv, recto, column 1; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
4 more examples
- VVo vnto them, that riſe vp early to follovve drunkennes, and to them that cõtinue [continue] vntil night, til the vvine do inflame them.1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Isaiah V:11, folio 284, verso, column 1:
- There be alſo hearbes vvhich increaſe in cattell diuers diſeaſes, as […] VVolfe-bane, vvhich is that graſſe in cilicia, vvhich inflameth oxen, […]1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Oxe and Cow”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 77:
- [I]n curioſity I put ſome of the vvood in my mouth and chevved it; vvhat the vertue may be I knovv not; but for half an hour my mouth vvas inflamed as if I had taken ſo much Vitriol.1677, Tho[mas] Herbert, “[Trees. Dodo’s.]”, in Some Yeares Travels into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great. […], 4th edition, London: […] R. Everingham, for R. Scot, T. Basset, J[ohn] Wright, and R. Chiswell, →OCLC, page 382:
- 'Tis this day just a month since I felt the pain on the tip of my left shoulder which grew worse, and spread for six days; then broke all out by my collar, and left side of my neck in monstrous red spots inflamed, and these grew to small pimples.1712 May 4 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “[Dr. Swift’s Journal to Stella.] Letter XV.”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XIV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 299:
4
Figuratively To cause (someone, or their heart, mind, etc.) to feel strong desire or other feelings; to excite (someone) to great passion; specifically, to cause (someone) to feel anger or rage; to anger, to enrage, to incense.
- You are not VVood, you are not Stones, but men: / And being men, hearing the VVill of Cæſar, / It vvill inflame you, it vvill make you mad; […]1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 122, column 1:
- Honour, Revenge, Contempt and Shame, / Did equally their breaſts enflame.1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “Canto III”, in Hudibras. The First Part. […], London: […] J. G. for Richard Marriot, […], →OCLC, page 87:
4 more examples
- To VVrangle the Devil, out of the Country, vvill be truly a Nevv Experiment! Alas, vve are not Avvare of the Devil, if vve do not think, that he aims at Enflaming us one againſt another; & ſhall vve ſuffer our ſelves to be Devil-Ridden? or, by any Vnadviſableneſs, contribute unto the VVidening of our Breaches?1692 (indicated as 1693), Cotton Mather, “Enchantments Encountred”, in The Wonders of the Invisible World. Observations as well Historical as Theological, upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations of the Devils. […], Boston, Mass.: […] Benjamin Harris, →OCLC:
- Refine and purge our Earthly Parts; / But, oh, inflame and fire our Hearts!(please specify the title), [attributed to Rabanus Maurus], “Veni Creator Spiritus, Translated in Paraphrase”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):
- VVhat ſudden Rage, vvhat nevv Deſire of Blood / Inflames your alter'd Minds? O Trojans ceaſe / From impious Arms, nor violate the Peace.1697, Virgil, “The Twelfth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 592, lines 472–474:
- [T]he former Party inclin'd moſt to the Republican Part of our Government, and the latter to the Monarchial. In vvhich reſpect they may be conſider'd as Court and Country-Party enflam'd into a Civil VVar, by an unhappy Concurrence of Circumſtances, and by the turbulent Spirit of the Age.1741, [David Hume], “Essay XI. Of the Parties of Great Britain.”, in Essays, Moral and Political, volume I, Edinburgh: […] R[obert] Fleming and A[lexander] Alison, for A[lexander] Kincaid […], →OCLC, page 126:
5
Figuratively To excite or intensify (a feeling, such as an appetite or passion), especially to an excessive or unnatural level.
- to inflame desire
- Yet ſome report, by caſualtie of riding, or like accident, his bodie in ſome ſort became imperfect. VVhich notvvithſtanding quenched not, but rather inflamed his daring courage, maliciously looking vpon the vertue and perfections of other mens minds and bodies.1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “A Later Tragicall History of the Georgians, Christians”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, pages 72–73:
1 more example
- The reports and sanguine speculations of the first adventures had inflamed the cupidity of many, […]1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, “Attempted Assassination of Ferdinand.—Return and Second Voyage of Columbus. 1492–1493.”, in History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic. […], volume II, Boston, Mass.: American Stationers’ Company; John B. Russell, →OCLC, 1st part (1406–1492), page 178:
6
Figuratively To cause (something intangible, such as a dispute or violence, or hunger or thirst) to become more serious or worse; to aggravate, to exacerbate.
- They often drank of this stream, which had such a particular quality in it, that though it refreshed them for a time, it rather inflamed than quenched their thirst.1709 January 31 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Joseph Addison], “Thursday, January 21, 1708–09”, in The Tatler, number 123; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 251:
- A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes.1712 June 17 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “FRIDAY, June 7, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 399; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume IV, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 511:
1 more example
- The long-awaited verdict could inflame tension in the Southeast Asian country and have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.2017 August 25, “Arrest Threat as Yingluck Shinawatra Misses Verdict”, in Al Jazeera, archived from the original on 27 Oct 2021:
7
Figuratively, Obsolete To increase (the price or quantity of something).
- [T]his new corporation of druggists had inflamed the bills of mortality, and puzzled the college of physicians with diseases, for which they neither knew a name or cure.1710 February 19 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Wednesday, February 9, 1709–10”, in The Tatler, number 131; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC, page 283:
- As you ſay, vve paſſengers are to be taxed to pay all theſe fineries. I have often ſeen a good ſideboard, or a marble chimney-piece, tho' not actually put in the bill, enflame a reckoning confoundedly.1773, [Oliver] Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer: Or, The Mistakes of a Night. A Comedy. […], London: […] F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 20:
8
To burst into flames, to catch fire.
- [A]s the Oile vvaſteth, and deſcendeth, ſo the Top of the Turret, by little and little, filleth vvith Aire; vvhich is cauſed by the Rarefaction of the Oile by the Heat. It vvere vvorthy the Obſeruation, to make a Hole, in the Top of the Turret, and to trie, vvhen the Oile is almoſt conſumed, vvhether the Aire made of the Oile, if you put to it a Flame of a Candle, in the letting of it forth, vvill Enflame.1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “IV. Century. [Experiment in Consort, Touching the Continuance of Flame.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 373, page 100:
9
Broadly Of a person's body or body part: to feel abnormally or unusually hot; specifically (medicine), to be affected by inflammation.
- [S]ometime the liuer of the Fox inflameth, and then it is not cured but by the vlcerous blood flovving to the skin, and that euill blood cauſeth the Alopecia, or falling avvay of the haire, for vvhich cauſe (as is already ſaid) a Foxes skin is little vvorth that is taken in the ſummer time.1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Fox [The Crvcigeran Foxe]”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 224:
10
Broadly, Obsolete To become very hot.
- The vvind vvas favourable a vvhile; but ere long becalmed, vvhereby the ayre inflam'd, and Sea gave a fierie reflection; […]1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “[Choul. Mangalor.]”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 296:
11
Figuratively To feel strong desire or other feelings; to be passionate; specifically, to feel anger or rage.
- I fled, but he [Death] purſu'd (though more, it ſeems, / Inflam'd vvith luſt then rage) and ſvvifter far, […]1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature G2, verso, lines 790–791:
- [W]hen the ſeruants of the King had ſeene, / Their fell diſdaine, mixt vvith an enuious ſpleene, / Inflam'd; They queſtion'd hovv he durſt vvithſtand / The iuſt performance of the Kings Command: […]1621, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Sect[ion] 7. Meditatio sexta.”, in Hadassa: Or The History of Queene Ester: With Meditations thereupon, Diuine and Morall, London: […] Richard Moore, […], →OCLC, signature F3, verso:
2 more examples
- I know how soon your noble heart inflames when sympathy and humanity appeal to it; I know how strong your courage is to undertake a noble action, and how warm your zeal to finish it.1825, Thomas Carlyle, “Appendix. Note B. Page 42. Letters of Schiller.”, in The Life of Friedrich Schiller. […], London: […] [C. Richards] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 337:
- You meditate upon the nerves, / Inflame with hate. This ancient feud / Is seldom won. […]1932–1941, Theodore Roethke, “Feud”, in Open House, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, published 1941, →OCLC, part I, page 5:
- Derived terms
- disinflame, inflamed, inflamer, inflaming, misinflame, reinflame, uninflamed
- Related terms
- flammable, inflammable, inflammation, inflammatory